By Elvira Jordan
President Bola Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria on Tuesday, September 29, after spending about four weeks in Europe, as Vice President Kashim Shettima returned from the United States on Monday, September 28, after he represented the President at the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
Presidency sources said Tinubu’s return is being linked to the October 1 Independence anniversary, during which he is expected to deliver a nationwide broadcast.
The President was initially expected to return to Abuja this weekend but has reportedly adjusted his schedule.
Sources said Tinubu may arrive first in Lagos, where he is expected to be received by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, before proceeding to Abuja later.
The President is expected to remain in Lagos through October 1 to mark the Independence anniversary and address Nigerians.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima returned to Nigeria on Monday after representing President Tinubu at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Shettima had departed Abuja on September 20 after being mandated by the President to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the annual global gathering.
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima delivered President Tinubu’s national statement at the General Debate, where Nigeria renewed its call for reforms to the United Nations Security Council.
The statement said Nigeria advocated permanent African representation on the Council, fairer global financing, stronger climate support and deeper multilateral cooperation.
It added that at the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, Tinubu called on African countries to move beyond the export of raw minerals and focus on processing, manufacturing and value addition.
