Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has assured that the country will be adequately represented at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York despite President Bola Tinubu's absence, noting that more than 60 per cent of the speakers listed at the ongoing session are being represented by either their vice presidents or foreign ministers.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Nigerian Mission to the United Nations in New York and posted on his Facebook page, Ibrahim said Nigeria would retain its designated position at the UNGA, including its front-row seat, with Vice President Kashim Shettima standing in for Tinubu. "The Vice President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs are adequately positioned to represent Nigeria at the General Assembly and participate fully in the diplomatic engagements surrounding the session," Ibrahim said. The envoy explained that Tinubu would not personally attend the session as he is currently in France on annual leave. "The absence of the President should not be interpreted as Nigeria being inadequately represented. Our delegation will continue to participate fully in the proceedings."
Ibrahim, who is also Chairman of the UN Committee on Budget and Administration, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and other senior government officials would join Shettima at the high-level session. He urged Nigerians to view the country's participation within the broader context of diplomatic representation, stressing that Nigeria would continue to play its role fully at the General Assembly. The statement followed the Presidency's announcement on Sunday that Tinubu had mandated Shettima to represent him and lead Nigeria's delegation to the 81st UNGA in New York.
The delegation includes Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, ministers and other senior government officials. Shettima is expected to deliver Nigeria's national statement during the General Debate and participate in high-level and bilateral meetings. The General Debate is scheduled for September 22 to 28, 2026, under the theme, "Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all." At the General Debate, Shettima will outline the country's position and priorities on major global issues affecting national development, peace and security, economic growth and international cooperation. The Vice President is also expected to participate in high-level meetings on the Right to Development, climate action and other issues of strategic importance to Nigeria and the African continent. He will join other world leaders at the traditional reception for Heads of Delegation and participate in bilateral meetings with leaders of other countries, international organisations and development partners on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
According to the Presidency, the engagements will provide Nigeria with an opportunity to advance President Tinubu's economic diplomacy, deepen strategic partnerships and strengthen the country's voice on reform of the global financial architecture, sustainable development, climate finance and multilateral cooperation. The Vice President is expected to return to Nigeria after completing his engagements in New York.
The development followed earlier reports that Tinubu was expected to personally attend the 81st UNGA. Ibrahim had said in July that arrangements had been made for the President to attend, including provisions for him to sit close to US President Donald Trump. Tinubu confirmed in July that he would attend the General Assembly and participate in selected high-level side events. The envoy said at the time that the President was expected to use the occasion to present the administration's reform agenda to the international community and engage world leaders on issues including energy, education and healthcare. However, the Presidency announced on Sunday that Shettima would now lead the delegation. Shettima had previously represented Tinubu at the 79th and 80th sessions of the UNGA in 2024 and 2025.
The President's absence marks his third consecutive year of not attending the UN General Assembly. Tinubu attended the 78th session in person in 2023, his first year in office. Since then, he has delegated representation to Vice President Shettima at the 79th session in 2024, the 80th in 2025 and now the 81st in 2026. The pattern has drawn political criticism, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar questioning the President's repeated absences. Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, said Tinubu stayed away from the 79th UNGA in 2024, the 80th in 2025 and will not attend the 81st session in 2026, with Vice President Shettima representing Nigeria on each occasion. Atiku demanded an explanation for the absences, linking them to what he described as "American baggage." The Presidency has not linked the President's decision to any specific controversy.
The 81st UNGA session is holding amid heightened global attention on Nigeria's diplomatic posture. The General Debate will bring together heads of state and government from nearly 200 countries to address pressing global challenges, including climate change, sustainable development, peace and security, and reform of the international financial architecture. Nigeria's participation in these discussions is expected to focus on advancing its economic diplomacy, strengthening strategic partnerships and amplifying its voice on issues of importance to Africa and the developing world. For the Nigerian delegation, the task is to ensure that the country's absence at the head-of-state level does not translate into diminished influence in the corridors of the United Nations.
For Ambassador Ibrahim, the message is one of reassurance. He has insisted that Nigeria's representation remains robust, that its front-row seat is retained, and that the delegation is fully equipped to engage on the issues that matter. "Nigeria will continue to play its role fully at the General Assembly," he said. Whether that assurance will quiet the political debate at home remains to be seen. As the General Debate begins on September 22, Shettima will carry the responsibility of presenting Nigeria's positions to the world, delivering the national statement that Tinubu would have delivered, and engaging with leaders and development partners on the sidelines of the session. For the millions of Nigerians watching from home, the question is not only whether the country will be adequately represented, but whether its voice will be heard on the issues that shape their lives.
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