NEW YORK/ABUJA — September 24, 2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision not to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in person has renewed debate over Nigeria’s diplomatic visibility and the country’s ability to use the annual gathering for high-level international engagement.
Tinubu has asked Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the UNGA. Shettima is scheduled to deliver Nigeria’s national statement and hold high-level and bilateral meetings on issues including security, economic development and international cooperation.
This is the third consecutive UN General Assembly at which Shettima has represented Tinubu. The President personally attended the 2023 UNGA, but did not attend in 2024, 2025 or 2026.
Why the absence is attracting attention
The UN General Assembly brings together leaders and senior representatives from 193 UN member states and provides opportunities for bilateral meetings, investment discussions and negotiations on international issues.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised Tinubu’s repeated absence, arguing that presidential-level participation provides a level of diplomatic visibility that cannot always be replicated by a delegation led by the Vice President. These are Atiku’s political arguments, rather than an established finding that Nigeria has lost diplomatic opportunities because of Tinubu’s absence.
The issue has also attracted attention because Nigeria is seeking stronger international partnerships around investment, security, development financing and economic cooperation. A recent report by The Guardian also questioned the government’s reported use of a US lobbying firm while the President was absent from the UN gathering.
Presidency rejects concerns
The Federal Government has defended the decision.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris said Tinubu is currently on annual leave and that Shettima is attending the UNGA with the President’s full mandate.
The Presidency maintains that Nigeria is fully represented and that Tinubu’s absence does not reduce the country’s diplomatic standing.
Presidential adviser Ademola Osodi has also rejected suggestions that Tinubu’s absence is connected to any restriction on his ability to travel to the United States. He pointed to Tinubu’s previous visit to the US, including his attendance at the 2023 UNGA.
What is confirmed?
Confirmed: Tinubu is not attending the 2026 UNGA in person, and Shettima is leading Nigeria’s delegation.
Confirmed: This is the third consecutive year Shettima has represented Tinubu at the General Debate.
Political criticism: Atiku says repeated presidential absence could reduce Nigeria’s diplomatic visibility and opportunities for international engagement.
Not established: There is currently no evidence in the sources reviewed showing that Tinubu is legally barred from travelling to the United States or that such a restriction caused his UNGA absence.
MONAFRIKA WATCH
The debate is therefore less about whether Nigeria is represented at the UN — it is — and more about the value of having the Nigerian President personally present at one of the world’s biggest diplomatic gatherings.
As Shettima continues Nigeria’s UNGA engagements, attention will be on the meetings, agreements and diplomatic outcomes that come from the country’s participation.
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