Abuja / New York – September 22, 2026
DDNewsOnline
President Bola Tinubu’s absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York has sparked fresh debate in Nigeria, as Vice President Kashim Shettima leads the country’s delegation to the high-level meeting.
As the leader of Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Vice President Kashim Shettima shoulders the primary diplomatic responsibilities of the state in New York.
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Shettima’s duty is to deliver Nigeria’s National Statement during the high-level General Debate, which runs from September 22 to 28, 2026.
The Presidency has dismissed domestic opposition criticisms and offered a multi-layered defence for President Tinubu’s absence.
The chief official reason provided by the administration is that the President has chosen to prioritise critical domestic matters. Specifically, the Presidency noted that Tinubu opted to focus his attention on managing deep internal economic hurdles and coordinating response efforts following the country’s recent devastating flooding incidents.
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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticised President Tinubu’s consecutive absences from the United Nations General Assembly, questioning whether personal history with U.S. authorities is influencing Nigeria’s foreign policy.
He noted Tinubu’s repeated failure to attend UNGA sessions, delegating representation to Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Atiku urged the presidency to clarify any potential impediments, stating that national interests should not be compromised.
Since taking office, President Tinubu has only attended the United Nations General Assembly once — the 78th Session in September 2023, where he personally delivered Nigeria’s national statement. He was absent from the 79th session in 2024 and the 80th in 2025, with Shettima representing him on both occasions. The 2026 absence therefore marks his third consecutive absence from the meeting.
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World leaders at the current session are intensely focused on halting major conflicts and easing humanitarian suffering, most notably the wars in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, alongside escalating tensions involving Iran.
As Vice President Shettima navigates critical high-level discussions in New York — ranging from global security conflicts to urgent climate change reforms — attention will centre on whether Nigeria can effectively project its leadership on the world stage without the physical presence of its Commander-in-Chief.
By: Komolafe Barakah
Reporter