President Bola Tinubu has cancelled his plan to travel to New York in the United States to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York. The general debates are scheduled to begin next week. However, his advance team has already left for New York and is now expected to be recalled back to Nigeria. In his stead, Vice President Kashim Shettima will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the annual summit. Tinubu “wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding,” a statement from the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, revealed on Thursday. The statement is titled ‘Vice President Shettima to Lead Nigeria’s Delegation to the 79th United Nations General Assembly.’ It read, “President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this year. “Therefore, the President has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation.” Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trips to China and the United Kingdom, “wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding,” said Onanuga. At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings. The high-level General Debate, with the theme “Leaving No One Behind: Acting Together for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development, and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generations,” will run from Tuesday, September 24, through Saturday, September 28, 2024. The president had said that only authorised government officials will attend this year’s UNGA scheduled to run from September 24 – 28. Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president, conveyed Tinubu’s directive during a one-day retreat organised by the State House management for heads of government agencies under its supervision. Gbajabiamila said the decision to reduce the country’s delegation for the UNGA is part of the “administration’s commitment to ensure prudent management of resources and reduce the cost of governance”. Post navigation Legislative donates N174m to Borno flood victims.
