Tinubu to Skip UN General Assembly Again as Shettima Leads Nigeria's Delegation ‎

President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, the Presidency has confirmed. Vice President Kashim Shettima will lead Nigeria's delegation instead. It is the third year in a row that Tinubu has skipped the annual gathering of world leaders in person.

The confirmation
A statement from the Vice President's office said Tinubu had mandated Shettima to represent him. Shettima will lead a delegation that includes Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, ministers and senior officials.

The General Debate runs from September 22 to 28 under the theme "Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all." Shettima will deliver Nigeria's national statement, join high-level meetings on the right to development and climate action, and hold bilateral talks on the sidelines.

The confirmation followed weeks of speculation.

Daily Trust noted that the Presidency had said Tinubu would return home after a three-week vacation in Europe, and that Nigeria's UN ambassador, Jimoh Ibrahim, had earlier said Tinubu would attend. SaharaReporters reported on Friday, citing a source close to the Presidency, that he would not.

A pattern since 2024
Shettima represented Tinubu at the 79th and 80th sessions in 2024 and 2025, and delivered Nigeria's national statements at both.

In 2024, the Presidency said Tinubu wanted to focus on domestic issues, particularly after devastating flooding. I found no official explanation this year.

Politics around the absence
A US lobbying firm working for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has claimed that a long-lobbied meeting between Tinubu and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines is now off. The firm has not backed the claim with documents, and the Presidency has not commented on it.

Nigeria's statement is being delivered by the Vice President on behalf of a president who is absent for a third straight year, which critics may see as diminishing Nigeria's presence in the biggest diplomatic forum. Supporters can point to the Presidency's argument that Shettima carries the country's position in full, and that economic diplomacy continues through other channels.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,

International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. ( USIP)

[email protected]
+233555275880

Sources
Channels TV, "Shettima To Lead Nigeria's Delegation To 2026 UNGA," Sept. 20, 2026 (https://www.channelstv.com/2026/09/20/shettima-to-lead-nigerias-delegation-to-2026-unga/)

SaharaReporters, "VP Shettima Departs For New York To Represent Tinubu At UN General Assembly," Sept. 20, 2026 (https://saharareporters.com/2026/09/20/vp-shettima-departs-new-york-represent-tinubu-un-general-assembly)

Daily Trust, "Tinubu confirms absence from UNGA, asks Shettima to lead Nigeria's delegation" (https://dailytrust.com/breaking-tinubu-confirms-absence-from-unga-asks-shettima-to-lead-nigerias-delegation/)

Radio Nigeria Ibadan, "Shettima Represents Tinubu at 81st UN General Assembly" (https://radionigeriaibadan.gov.ng/2026/09/20/shettima-represents-tinubu-at-81st-un-general-assembly/)

Streamlinefeed, "Tinubu confirms third
UNGA absence as Shettima leads delegation" (https://streamlinefeed.co.ke/news/tinubu-confirms-third-unga-absence-as-shettima-leads-delegation)

Kolaking Substack, "President Tinubu won't attend UNGA79," quoting a Presidency release (https://kolaking.substack.com/p/president-tinubu-wont-attend-unga79)

allAfrica/NAN, "UNGA - Shettima to Deliver Nigeria's National Statement Wednesday," Sept. 23, 2025 (https://allafrica.com/stories/202509240226.html)