President Bola Tinubu has extended his working vacation by a few days and is expected to return to Nigeria at the weekend, the Presidency announced on Monday.
Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London before proceeding to Paris, France, where he held official engagements, including meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The President has continued to receive updates on developments in Nigeria and issue directives on matters of national importance despite being outside the country, according to the Presidency. 
Among the decisions attributed to him was the directive for an investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State. The State House confirmed that the President ordered a full and transparent probe into the incident.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has meanwhile been representing Tinubu at official engagements, including the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he is scheduled to deliver Nigeria’s national statement.
With Shettima away in the United States, the Presidency said Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, would continue to represent the President at other official functions.
Tinubu’s extended stay abroad has attracted political criticism, including questions from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over the President’s absence from the UN General Assembly. The Presidency rejected the criticism and maintained that Shettima was representing Tinubu at the global meeting.
The Presidency also said Tinubu had remained engaged with governance during the vacation, while party consultations and other political activities continued at home. The President’s engagements in Paris included discussions with Bolloré on investment in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy.
