President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will reportedly not attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, despite earlier official indications that he would personally participate in the annual gathering of world leaders.
SaharaReporters reported on Friday that a source close to the Presidency confirmed that Tinubu would not attend the high-level meeting scheduled to begin next week. The source, however, did not disclose the reason for the reported change in the President’s plans.
“Tinubu will not be attending the UN General Assembly,” the source was quoted as saying.
The reported development comes after months of preparations and public statements indicating that the Nigerian President was scheduled to travel to New York and deliver Nigeria’s national statement during the General Debate.
As recently as July, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, publicly confirmed that Tinubu had agreed to attend the 81st UNGA. Ibrahim said the President had given his word that he would participate in the September gathering.
A provisional programme released ahead of the General Debate had also listed Tinubu among the speakers. He was scheduled to speak during the morning session on Wednesday, September 23, the second day of the high-level debate. The provisional schedule placed his address at approximately 11:30 a.m. to noon New York time, equivalent to about 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Nigerian time.
However, speaking schedules at the UN remain subject to adjustments, particularly when participating heads of state change their travel plans.
The 81st session of the General Assembly opened on September 8, while the high-level General Debate is scheduled for September 22 to 28 at the UN headquarters in New York. This year’s gathering is being held under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”
Before the latest report on Tinubu’s absence, Ambassador Ibrahim had outlined some of the issues Nigeria intended to highlight at the UN.
Among them was border policing in West Africa, an issue the envoy described as an important regional security concern. He said Nigeria was working with the United Nations on a regional border-policing initiative and intended to use the global platform to seek wider international cooperation.
“So, border policing will be fine. These are the kind of things that the UN is established for,” Ibrahim had said.
The ambassador had also indicated that Tinubu’s participation would give Nigeria an opportunity to present the reforms being undertaken by his administration to the international community.
Ibrahim further disclosed that a possible meeting between Tinubu and United States President Donald Trump could take place on the sidelines of the UNGA. That possibility was part of the expectations surrounding the President’s previously announced attendance.
If Tinubu does not attend, Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to lead Nigeria’s delegation, continuing a pattern established during the President’s two most recent absences from the General Assembly.
Tinubu personally attended the 78th UNGA in 2023. At the 79th session in 2024 and the 80th session in 2025, Shettima represented the President and delivered Nigeria’s national statements.
The possibility of Shettima again leading the Nigerian delegation had already emerged earlier in September, when reports indicated that Tinubu’s attendance was uncertain. BusinessDay reported that a planned delegation of Nigerian officials could be headed by the Vice President.
The latest report would therefore represent a change from the position publicly communicated by Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in July.
The reported change in the President’s UNGA plans also comes after a period of international travel and diplomatic engagements.
Tinubu left Abuja on August 30 for an overseas trip described by the Presidency as a working vacation. During the trip, he travelled to France, where French President Emmanuel Macron hosted him to a private dinner at the Élysée Palace.
Following the meeting, Tinubu said discussions with Macron reaffirmed the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and France and the two countries’ interest in expanding bilateral cooperation.
Nigeria has also received an invitation from Singapore for Tinubu to visit the country.
According to Ambassador Ibrahim, Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Burhan Gafoor, visited Nigeria’s Permanent Mission in New York and delivered an invitation from Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
The invitation comes as Nigeria seeks to expand diplomatic and economic partnerships beyond its traditional international relationships.
Tinubu’s expected appearance at the UNGA had been widely reported before the latest development.
In July, Ibrahim said the President would use the gathering to address the international community and discuss Nigeria’s reform programme. A provisional speaking schedule subsequently placed Nigeria’s President among the leaders expected to address the General Assembly on September 23. (Punch Newspapers)
The reported decision not to attend therefore marks a reversal of the previously announced plan.
As of Friday, no official statement from the Presidency giving the reason for the reported change had been cited in the available reports. The Presidency’s final arrangements for Nigeria’s representation at the 81st UNGA will determine who delivers the country’s national statement and represents Nigeria at the high-level diplomatic meetings.
The UN General Assembly remains one of the principal annual forums for heads of state and government to discuss international peace and security, climate change, sustainable development and other global challenges. This year’s session is expected to bring together leaders and senior officials from across the world for a week of high-level diplomatic engagements.
