Nigeria will retain its designated position, including its front-row seat, at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), despite President Bola Tinubu’s absence.

This was made known by the Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim.

Ibrahim said Vice President Kashim Shettima would represent President Tinubu at the high-level session, alongside the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

According to him, more than 60 per cent of countries scheduled to speak at the ongoing session are being represented by vice presidents or foreign ministers.

The envoy said there was nothing unusual about countries sending senior officials to represent their presidents or heads of government at the General Assembly.

In a statement by the Nigerian Mission to the United Nations in New York, Ibrahim said Shettima and Odumegwu-Ojukwu were fully prepared to represent Nigeria and take part in the diplomatic engagements.

He explained that President Tinubu would not attend the UNGA because he is currently in France on annual leave.

Ibrahim urged Nigerians not to see the President’s absence as a sign of inadequate representation, stressing that Nigeria would continue to participate fully in the proceedings of the General Assembly.