In a statement issued on Sunday, September 20, 2026, Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, announced that Tinubu has mandated Kashim Shettima to represent him at the high-level gathering.
“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,” the statement said.
Shettima will head a high-level team that includes Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, ministers and other senior government officials.
The 81st UNGA General Debate is scheduled for September 22 to 28, 2026, under the theme “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.” During the debate, Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement, outlining the country’s positions on major global issues affecting national development, peace and security, economic growth and international cooperation.
The Vice President is also expected to participate in high-level meetings focused on the Right to Development, climate action and other matters of strategic importance to Nigeria and Africa.
He will join other world leaders at the traditional reception for heads of delegation and hold bilateral meetings with foreign leaders, international organisations and development partners on the sidelines.
The engagements aim to advance President Tinubu’s economic diplomacy, deepen strategic partnerships and strengthen Nigeria’s voice on reform of the global financial architecture, sustainable development, climate finance and multilateral cooperation. Shettima will return to Nigeria after concluding his engagements in New York.
The announcement ends weeks of speculation over whether Tinubu would personally attend. In July, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, had said the President would attend and that arrangements had been made for him to sit near US President Donald Trump. A provisional speakers’ list had earlier listed Tinubu as the 10th speaker for the morning session on September 23.
Tinubu left Abuja on August 30 for a three-week vacation in Europe, beginning in London before proceeding to France. The Presidency later indicated he would return to Nigeria after the leave, raising expectations that he would skip the New York event.
“The Presidency has not provided a specific explanation for Tinubu’s decision not to attend.” The official statement simply confirmed the mandate to Shettima without elaborating on the reasons for the President’s absence.
This will mark the third consecutive UN General Assembly that Tinubu has missed since assuming office in 2023. He attended the 78th session in 2023 but was represented by Shettima at the 79th (2024) and 80th (2025) sessions. In 2024, the Presidency cited a desire to focus on domestic issues, including the aftermath of severe flooding.
The development has drawn some political commentary. On Saturday, Paul Ibe, media adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, publicly questioned reports of Tinubu’s planned absence, pointing to earlier diplomatic and lobbying efforts aimed at improving Nigeria’s standing in Washington and advancing potential agreements. He called for greater transparency from the Presidency.
Nigeria’s high-level week at the United Nations begins next week, with Shettima set to carry the country’s message on the global stage.
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