Tinubu cancels UNGA trip, Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation

President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.

The general debates are scheduled to begin next week.

However, his advance team has already left for New York and is now expected to be recalled back to Nigeria.

A statement issued on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), which announced the president’s withdrawal, said he has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation.

The statement noted that President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the United Kingdom, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.

It added that at UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings.

It informed that the high-level general debate, with the theme “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and future generations,” will run from Tuesday, September 24, through Saturday, September 28, 2024.

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