President Bola Tinubu has confirmed that he will not be physically present at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States, with Vice President Kashim Shettima mandated to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the annual gathering of world leaders.
The decision ends weeks of speculation over the President’s attendance at the high-level diplomatic event, after earlier official indications suggested that Tinubu would travel to New York and address the General Debate.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, had announced in July that Tinubu would attend the 81st UNGA. Ibrahim had said the President was expected to present Nigeria’s position at the gathering and that arrangements had been made for him to sit close to United States President Donald Trump.
However, subsequent uncertainty over the President’s travel plans intensified after the Presidency indicated that Tinubu would return to Nigeria following his three-week vacation in Europe. A report published earlier this month said the President’s attendance remained uncertain, with Vice President Shettima emerging as a possible head of the Nigerian delegation.
In a statement on Sunday, Stanley Nkwocha, spokesman for the Vice President, said Tinubu had directed Shettima to represent him and lead the Nigerian delegation to the 81st Session of the General Assembly.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, UNGA, in New York, United States”, Nkwocha said.
According to the statement, the delegation will include Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, ministers and other senior government officials.
The UN’s official programme shows that the General Debate of the 81st General Assembly will take place from September 22 to 28, 2026, at the UN Headquarters in New York. The 81st session opened on September 8 under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.
Shettima is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement during the General Debate, outlining the country’s position and priorities on issues relating to national development, international peace and security, economic growth and multilateral cooperation.
The Vice President is also scheduled to participate in high-level meetings on issues including the Right to Development, climate action and other matters considered strategically important to Nigeria and Africa.
The Presidency said the Vice President would attend the traditional reception for heads of delegation and hold bilateral meetings with foreign leaders, international organisations and development partners on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
It said the engagements would provide Nigeria with an opportunity to advance President Tinubu’s economic diplomacy, deepen strategic partnerships and strengthen the country’s advocacy on reform of the global financial architecture, sustainable development, climate finance and multilateral cooperation.
Shettima is expected to return to Nigeria after completing his engagements in New York.
Tinubu’s decision not to attend the 81st UNGA means he will miss the annual high-level gathering for the third consecutive year since assuming office in May 2023.
His absence also marks a change from the position publicly announced by Nigeria’s UN envoy earlier in the year. In July, Ibrahim had said Tinubu would attend the 81st General Assembly and present his administration’s reform achievements to the international community.
Other reports at the time also indicated that the President was scheduled to address the General Debate on September 23.
