Tinubu to Return Weekend After London-Paris Working Vacation, Delegates Duties
President Bola Tinubu will return to Nigeria this weekend after extending his working vacation that began on 30 August with a week in London, followed by talks in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bollore, whose media group includes Canal+, Multichoice and Universal Music Group. While abroad, Tinubu has continued to direct national affairs, ordering an independent panel to investigate the death of 37 illegal miners in Minna after their detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. He delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent him at official functions; Shettima left Abuja on 20 September for New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly, while Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume continues to stand in for the president at other events. Politically, Presidential Campaign Council Director‑General Abubakar Yari has been leading consultations with traditional rulers. The presidency dismissed as irresponsible claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a US‑based lobbying firm headed by an ex‑convict that Tinubu’s absence from UNGA was suspicious. The extension of his vacation by a few days means his return coincides with the weekend, raising questions about how quickly any pending directives will be implemented once he is back in Abuja. As Tinubu prepares to resume duties, will his swift return accelerate the miners’ investigation and other pending policies, or will the delegated authority of Shettima and Akume maintain the status quo until he settles back in?