The Presidency has dismissed concerns over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s prolonged absence from Nigeria, saying the President is “hale and hearty” and has continued to discharge his official responsibilities while on a working vacation abroad.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu was entitled to his annual vacation and that advances in communications technology made it possible for him to continue performing presidential duties without being physically present in Abuja.
The Presidency had earlier announced that Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for a working vacation, initially travelling to London before moving to Paris, France. It subsequently said the President had extended the vacation by a few days while remaining in touch with developments at home and directing government affairs.
Onanuga pointed to the President’s engagements in France as evidence that he had remained active during the period.
Among those engagements was the signing in Paris of Memoranda of Understanding between the Ogun State Government and global ports and logistics company DP World for the development of the Gateway Deep Seaport and the Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone.
Tinubu witnessed the signing and assured investors of the Federal Government’s regulatory and institutional support for the projects, which are expected to attract an initial investment of more than $7 billion. The Presidency said the projects are initiatives of the Ogun State Government, with the Federal Government providing regulatory and institutional support.
The President also held talks in Paris with French businessman Vincent Bolloré over potential expansion of investments in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy.
Onanuga also responded to questions raised by former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi over the President’s whereabouts and absence from the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
He criticised Obi’s comments and maintained that there was nothing unusual about Tinubu delegating Vice President Kashim Shettima to represent Nigeria at the UN General Assembly.
The presidential spokesman cited the absence of some other African leaders from the gathering to argue that a president’s non-attendance at the UNGA should not automatically become a matter of controversy.
According to Onanuga, President Tinubu is expected back in Nigeria this week ahead of activities marking the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.