President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria this week after spending several weeks abroad on what his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described as a working vacation.

Onanuga said on Sunday that the President was “hale and hearty” and had continued carrying out his responsibilities while outside the country.

He argued that Tinubu did not need to be physically present in Abuja to perform his duties in an increasingly digital environment.

“He has been on a working vacation, which he is perfectly entitled to. In this digital age, he does not need to be physically present in Abuja to do the work for which he was elected in 2023,” Onanuga said.

According to the presidential aide, Tinubu had continued engaging in official activities while abroad, including meetings with investors in France.

Onanuga specifically referred to what he described as the President’s recent role in facilitating a $7 billion deep-sea port project in Ogun Waterside, an initiative of the Ogun State Government.

Presidency Defends Tinubu’s Extended Stay Abroad

Tinubu’s prolonged absence from Nigeria has attracted criticism from opposition figures, particularly following his decision not to personally attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The President left Nigeria on August 30 for what the Presidency initially announced as a three-week annual vacation. He travelled first to London before proceeding to Paris.

The Presidency later announced that Tinubu had extended his working vacation by a few days and was expected to return at the weekend.

Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Tinubu at the UN General Assembly in New York. This marked the third consecutive year that Shettima led Nigeria’s delegation to the gathering on behalf of the President.

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar questioned Tinubu’s continued absence and asked whether the President had transmitted a written declaration to the leadership of the National Assembly to allow Shettima to act as President while he was away.

Atiku cited Section 145 of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides for such a declaration when the President proceeds on vacation, and questioned whether Nigerians had been shown evidence that the constitutional procedure had been followed.

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Party, had also criticised Tinubu’s decision to spend his vacation in Europe. Obi argued that the President should focus on challenges facing Nigerians and questioned why he could not take his vacation within Nigeria.

The Presidency has maintained that Tinubu remained in contact with developments at home and continued directing government affairs while abroad.

It also stated that Shettima was carrying the President’s full mandate at the UN General Assembly and would ensure that Nigeria’s interests were advanced in New York.

Onanuga Defends President’s Absence From UNGA

Onanuga compared Tinubu’s absence from this year’s UN General Assembly with the absence of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

“The Nigerian President announced he was taking his annual vacation and delegated attendance to his able and dependable Vice President,” he said.

The presidential aide also responded to questions from Peter Obi regarding Tinubu’s whereabouts.

“Yet Peter Obi pretends to be unaware of President Tinubu’s whereabouts and asks the puerile question his followers are asking on X,” Onanuga said.

Tinubu Expected Back for Independence Anniversary

According to Onanuga, Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria this week to participate in activities marking the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The President is also expected to attend the Lagos premiere of a movie commemorating the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.

Onanuga described Abiola as “the martyr of the democracy we enjoy today.”

The expected return will bring an end to Tinubu’s extended stay abroad, which the Presidency has characterised as a working vacation during which the President continued to engage in official duties and government affairs remotely.