Shettima To Replace Tinubu At UNGA After Envoy Boasted Of Seating Beside Trump

President Bola Tinubu will no longer attend the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York after his envoy boasted two months ago that he would sit very close to United States President Donald Trump in the front row, with Vice President Kashim Shettima now mandated to lead Nigeria’s delegation instead.

President Bola Tinubu has made a U-turn on his planned attendance at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly [UNGA] in New York, mandating Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation instead.

The Presidency confirmed the development on Sunday, ending weeks of speculation over whether Tinubu would personally attend the annual gathering of world leaders.

In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, the Presidency said Shettima will represent Tinubu and lead a high-level delegation comprising Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, ministers and other senior government officials.

The decision is a reversal of an earlier position announced in July.

On July 15, 2026, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, after meeting Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, told State House correspondents that the President had confirmed his attendance at the 81st UNGA.

“The President has generously agreed to attend the UNGA meeting of the United Nations. It is significant because Mr President has a speech to give to the whole world about the reform success in Nigeria, and that has been slated for September. So Nigeria will be effectively present at UNGA,” Ibrahim had said.

Ibrahim had also disclosed that Tinubu’s address was scheduled for around 10:45 a.m. New York time [3:45 p.m. Nigerian time], to enable Nigerians watch live.

He further revealed that Tinubu would be seated very close to the United States President, Donald Trump, in the front row of the General Assembly Hall, raising prospects of a chance meeting between both leaders who have not met publicly before.

“President Tinubu will be sitting very, very close to Donald Trump in the front row of the United Nations General Assembly. That you can get from me. Don’t ask me how that was arranged, but Mr President of Nigeria will be sitting in the front row,” Ibrahim said at the time.

A source familiar with the seating arrangement had told PUNCH that “Trump will see him and they will meet during the UN Summit because he will be sitting two seats away from him in the front row.”

Side events on power and energy, education, hospital management and border policing in West Africa were also said to have been scheduled for Tinubu.

Tinubu’s planned attendance would have ended a two-year absence from the world’s most prominent diplomatic gathering. At the 79th UNGA in September 2024, the Presidency said Tinubu stayed back to focus on domestic matters, particularly devastating floods, and directed Shettima to lead the delegation. He again delegated Shettima to attend the 80th UNGA in September 2025.

However, on August 30, Tinubu departed Abuja for a three-week vacation in Europe, with London as his first destination before proceeding to France. The Presidency announced he would return after his leave, prompting talks that he would miss the UNGA.

The Presidency has now confirmed Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement at the General Debate 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 deliver Nigeria’s national statement, outlining the country’s position and priorities on major global issues with implications for national development, peace and security, economic growth and international cooperation,” the statement said.

It added that Shettima will participate in high-level meetings on the Right to Development, climate action and other strategic issues, join other world leaders at the traditional reception for heads of delegation, and hold bilateral meetings with leaders of other countries, international organisations and development partners.

“The engagements will provide Nigeria with an opportunity to advance 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 Presidency said.

Shettima will return to Nigeria at the conclusion of his engagements in New York.