Shettima Leads Nigeria Delegation to UN General Assembly

Vice President Kashim Shettima arrived in New York on Monday to lead Nigeria's delegation to the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he will deliver the national statement and renew the country's campaign for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The delegation's agenda includes advocating for reforms to global political and financial institutions. Shettima is representing President Bola Tinubu, who is on annual leave. The Federal Government stated that Tinubu mandated the Vice President to lead the delegation, a decision officials described as neither unusual nor a diminution of Nigeria's diplomatic standing. Information Minister Mohammed Idris said the government noted political commentary from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a U.S.-based lobbying organization questioning Tinubu's absence, dismissing the criticism as imputing "false and baseless motives" to a routine decision. Upon arrival, Shettima was received by Nigerian officials, including Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim.