Shettima says Tinubu stayed in close contact during overseas trip
Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu received regular updates and remained involved in government affairs during his four-week stay abroad. Shettima also defended the administration’s economic reforms and announced planned transport measures for the north-east, including electric tricycles, buses and taxis.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu remained in regular contact with his administration during his four-week stay abroad, Vice President Kashim Shettima said on Saturday after meeting the president in Lagos. Shettima told journalists that he and Tinubu spoke “almost every other day” while the president was outside Nigeria. He said officials provided updates on developments in the country and that Tinubu continued to follow government affairs.
The vice president’s account came four days after Tinubu returned to Nigeria from what the presidency described as an extended working vacation. The president’s absence had prompted public discussion because he did not formally transfer power to the vice president. The presidency had previously said Tinubu remained in contact with officials and directed affairs from abroad.
It cited as one example his directive to establish an independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 illegal miners in Minna. Tinubu left Nigeria on 30 August, travelling first to London and then to Paris, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron, businessman Vincent Bolloré and other business leaders. He also witnessed the signing of an agreement involving the Ogun State Government and DP World for a proposed deep seaport and economic zone.
Shettima used the meeting to defend the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of multiple exchange rates. He said the measures were taken when Nigeria’s economy was close to collapse, claiming foreign reserves stood at $3.9 billion when the administration assumed office. He said the reforms had prevented the economy from falling apart.
The vice president acknowledged the hardship facing Nigerians, saying the government was working to reduce its effects. He announced planned north-east transport and logistics initiatives, including 10,600 electric tricycles, 300 buses and electric taxis. He also described the Nigeria Education Loan Fund as an important intervention for students from poor backgrounds.
Tinubu returned on 29 September and rejected concerns about his health as political rumour, saying he was healthy and ready to resume work.
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