Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has confirmed that President Bola Tinubu will attend the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) scheduled to hold in New York in September.
The announcement came on Wednesday after Ibrahim met with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to conclude discussions on Nigeria’s preparations for the global summit.
A source familiar with the arrangements also disclosed that Tinubu may have an opportunity for a chance meeting with United States President Donald Trump, as both leaders are expected to be seated in close proximity inside the General Assembly Hall.
Ibrahim, who addressed State House correspondents after his meeting with the President, revealed that Tinubu had approved his participation in the annual gathering of world leaders.
According to him, the President’s address will focus largely on Nigeria’s economic reforms and the progress achieved under his administration.
“The President has generously agreed to attend the UNGA meeting of the United Nations.
“It is significant because Mr President has a speech to give to the whole world about the reform success in Nigeria, and that has been slated for September.
“So Nigeria will be effectively present at UNGA.”
He further disclosed that Tinubu’s speech has been scheduled for approximately 10:45 a.m. New York time, equivalent to about 3:45 p.m. Nigerian time, allowing Nigerians to follow the event live.
“That will be a time when Nigeria will be awake, so everybody will listen and see live what the President will be delivering,” he said.
Responding to questions regarding a possible interaction between Tinubu and President Trump during the General Assembly, Ibrahim declined to confirm any formal bilateral meeting but revealed that both leaders would be seated near each other in the front row.
“I won’t be able to tell you that there will be a meeting, but I can tell you clearly that President Tinubu will be sitting very, very close to Donald Trump in the front row of the United Nations General Assembly.
“That you can get from me. Don’t ask me how that was arranged, but Mr President of Nigeria will be sitting in the front row.”
A source familiar with the seating arrangement told The PUNCH that Tinubu would be positioned only two seats away from the American president, creating the possibility of an informal encounter between the two leaders, who are yet to hold a public meeting.
“Trump will see him and they will meet during the UN Summit because he will be sitting two seats away from him in the front row,” the source said.
Beyond delivering Nigeria’s national statement, Ibrahim said Tinubu would also participate in several high-level side events organised alongside the General Assembly.
According to him, these engagements will focus on strategic sectors including energy, education and healthcare.
“There are side events for Mr President to attend, which include meetings on power and energy issues.
“There is another side event on education, as well as hospital management.
“But we don’t want to crowd the itinerary, so we discussed that graciously,” he stated.
The Nigerian envoy also disclosed that regional security featured prominently during his discussions with the President.
He explained that Tinubu intends to use Nigeria’s engagement at the United Nations to advance stronger border policing across West Africa, describing porous borders as a major contributor to insecurity within the sub-region.
“The President also reaffirmed his commitment to border policing. This time around, the President will be working with the United Nations to look into the West African border, which is porous.
“A lot of peacekeeping effort is coming in here, and I will be going back to the UN to inform everyone about the decision to take West Africa as a case study of border policing and ensure our security is well guaranteed.”
Ibrahim also disclosed that he would present the proposed United Nations budget for 2027 in his capacity as Chairman of the UN Budget Committee, a responsibility that places Nigeria in a key position within the organisation’s financial decision-making process.
Tinubu’s planned participation at UNGA 81 will mark his return to the annual summit after missing the previous two sessions.
In 2024, the Presidency explained that the President remained in Nigeria to supervise responses to severe flooding affecting several states, while Vice President Kashim Shettima represented the country.
Shettima also led Nigeria’s delegation to the 80th UN General Assembly in 2025, where he delivered the country’s national statement on behalf of Tinubu.
During that address, Tinubu criticised the widening gap between the United Nations’ declarations and practical actions, arguing that the organisation’s credibility depended on translating commitments into measurable outcomes.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s economic reform agenda as an example of resilience and transformation among developing nations.
Relations between Nigeria and the United States also featured in the discussions ahead of this year’s summit.
On October 31, 2025, President Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing the persecution of Christians by violent extremist groups.
The White House subsequently declared that the United States remained prepared to defend victims of religious persecution.
Trump wrote on social media that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria” and that “thousands of Christians are being killed” by radical Islamist groups, a move that prompted concerns among observers that the designation could eventually lead to sanctions.
President Tinubu later expressed his administration’s readiness to continue working with the United States to strengthen security and improve stability across Nigeria.
