The Presidency has shifted attention from President Bola Tinubu’s prolonged stay abroad to his planned return to Nigeria this week, with Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga saying the President has remained engaged in official duties during his working vacation.
Tinubu is expected back in the country ahead of the 66th Independence Anniversary and the Lagos premiere of a documentary on the late MKO Abiola.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria this week after spending several weeks in Europe on what the presidency described as a working vacation.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu remained engaged with official duties despite his absence from Nigeria.
Onanuga said the President was “hale and hearty” and had continued to work while abroad, arguing that modern communication made it unnecessary for him to be physically present in Abuja to discharge his responsibilities.
Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for London before travelling to Paris, where he held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The Presidency also cited Tinubu’s involvement in the signing of agreements between the Ogun State Government and DP World for the development of the Gateway Deep Seaport and Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone.
The projects, signed in Paris, are expected to attract more than $7bn in initial investment and create over 50,000 direct jobs when fully developed.
Tinubu’s extended stay abroad has attracted criticism from opposition figures, particularly over his absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the gathering, where he delivered the country’s national statement.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar questioned whether the constitutional procedure for transferring presidential authority during Tinubu’s absence had been followed, while Peter Obi also criticised the President’s decision to spend his vacation abroad.
The Presidency has maintained that Tinubu remained in contact with developments in Nigeria and continued to direct government affairs while away. It had earlier announced that his working vacation, which was initially expected to last three weeks, had been extended by a few days.
Onanuga also defended Tinubu’s decision not to attend the UNGA in person, pointing to the representation of Nigeria by the vice-president.
The presidential aide said Tinubu would return to Nigeria this week for activities marking the 66th Independence Anniversary.
He is also expected to attend the Lagos premiere of “MKO”, a documentary about the life and legacy of the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. The film is scheduled to premiere at the National Theatre on October 1.
Discussion0