The Presidency has said President Bola Tinubu remains healthy and has continued to perform his official duties while on a working vacation outside Nigeria.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a post on his X account on Sunday, amid questions over the President’s continued absence from the country.

Onanuga said Tinubu did not need to be physically present in Abuja to carry out his responsibilities, noting that digital communication had enabled the President to continue working remotely.

He said the President had held meetings with investors during his stay in France and had recently facilitated a $7 billion deep-sea port project in Ogun Waterside, an initiative of the Ogun State Government.

The presidential aide also defended Tinubu’s absence from the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York, noting that some other African leaders were also not attending the gathering in person.

He cited South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, saying Ramaphosa had withdrawn from public engagements while Egypt had not faced similar public criticism over el-Sisi’s absence.

Onanuga said Tinubu had informed Nigerians of his annual vacation and assigned Vice-President Kashim Shettima to represent the country at the UNGA.

His comments followed criticism from former Anambra State governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over Tinubu’s absence from the UN gathering and questions about his whereabouts.

Onanuga criticised Obi’s comments, saying the President’s location and activities had already been communicated publicly.

He added that Tinubu was expected to return to Nigeria during the week to participate in activities marking the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

According to the presidential aide, Tinubu would also attend the premiere of a film produced in honour of the late Chief MKO Abiola in Lagos as part of activities to commemorate the democracy icon.