The Nigerian Presidency has denied allegations that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's absence from the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was due to any legal or immigration restrictions in the United States. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Oshodi, described the claims as "pure nonsense" and "politics." Oshodi emphasized that there was "absolutely no impediment" to Tinubu traveling to the United States.
According to Oshodi, Tinubu had previously traveled to the United States since becoming President, including attending the 78th UNGA in New York in 2023 and visiting NASDAQ. The President also visited Los Angeles in August 2025 before traveling to Brazil, with Oshodi personally accompanying him on these trips. Oshodi argued that presidential attendance at the UNGA should not be the sole measure of a country's seriousness about foreign policy.
Oshodi stated that Vice President Kashim Shettima, who led Nigeria's delegation to the UNGA, carries the President's full mandate and has sufficient authority to articulate and advance Nigeria's interests. Shettima delivered Nigeria's national statements at the 79th and 80th sessions in 2024 and 2025, respectively, while Tinubu last attended the gathering personally in 2023. Shettima arrived in New York on Monday to represent Tinubu and lead the Nigerian delegation.
Nigeria's priorities at the UNGA include addressing insecurity across the Sahel, the direction of the Tinubu administration's economic reforms, reform of the global financial architecture, climate action, and stronger African representation in international institutions. These issues have direct implications for Nigerians, particularly in security cooperation, investment, climate financing, employment opportunities, and government revenue.
Oshodi maintained that Nigeria's foreign policy engagements extend beyond the annual UN gathering, citing the country's activities through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union (AU), BRICS, and bilateral relationships. He stressed that the value of the UNGA High-Level Week should be recognized, but it cannot become the sole measure of a country's diplomatic commitment.
The appropriate measure of Nigeria's performance at the UNGA, according to Oshodi, should be whether the country's positions were effectively advanced and whether its engagements yielded useful outcomes for Nigerians. He emphasized that public scrutiny of presidential attendance is healthy, but Nigeria is fully represented with sufficient authority.
The General Debate of the 81st UNGA is scheduled for September 22 to 28 under the theme, "Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all." Oshodi's comments followed public debate over Tinubu's decision to mandate Shettima to lead Nigeria's delegation to the UNGA for the third consecutive year.
Key points
- The Nigerian Presidency denies allegations of US entry restrictions on President Tinubu.
- Vice President Shettima leads Nigeria's delegation to the UNGA, carrying the President's full mandate.
- Nigeria's priorities at the UNGA include insecurity, economic reforms, and climate action.
