Tinubu Kept in Touch with Nigeria While Abroad - Shettima

Nigeria's Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that President Bola Tinubu stayed in regular contact with his team while spending four weeks abroad. He received updates on what was happening in the country during this time.

Mr Shettima shared this information on Saturday after meeting Mr Tinubu at the president's home in Lagos, just four days after the president returned from his extended working vacation.

The vice president spoke to reporters after their meeting. He revealed that he and Mr Tinubu communicated “almost every other day” while the president was away. They discussed updates on developments in Nigeria.

“We have been in regular contact throughout his sojourn abroad,” Mr Shettima said. “We speak almost every other day, and we are updating him. We are updating him on developments in the nation, and we are happy he’s back on the beat.”

These comments give a look into how the government functioned while Mr Tinubu was outside the country. His absence brought up public discussions, especially because he did not hand over to the Vice-President.

The presidency had said earlier that Mr Tinubu kept in touch with officials back home and managed the country's affairs while he was abroad. It pointed out the president's order for an independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 illegal miners in Minna as one of the decisions made during his absence.

Mr Shettima added that the president received updates frequently throughout his time away. He also took the chance to defend the government's economic policies during his meeting with Mr Tinubu. This included the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of Nigeria's various exchange rates.

He mentioned that these decisions were made when the economy was “teetering on the verge of collapse.” He said Mr Tinubu had the courage to carry out what he called necessary reforms.

“When we assume the mantle of leadership, our foreign reserves was a staggeringly low $3.9 billion that was not enough to import oil for one month,” Mr Shettima said.

“He saved the economy. I want Nigerians to understand this fundamental truism. We are on the road to Caracas. He saved our economy. He saved the nation from falling to pieces.”

Mr Shettima did recognize the economic troubles that Nigerians are facing. He said the government is working on plans to lessen the impact of these hardships.

“We appreciate the pains Nigerians are going through, but tough times do not last forever. Tough people do,” he said.

He also announced that in the coming weeks, the federal government would roll out new transport and logistics projects in the North-east. This includes 10,600 electric tricycles, 300 buses, and electric taxis.

He explained that these initiatives aim to reduce the burden on Nigerians and “ameliorate the sufferings” of people in the region. Mr Shettima referred to the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as an important help for students from poor families. He said the program would assist students with limited finances in accessing higher education.

He promised that the government would keep introducing programs to help ease the hardship Nigerians experience.

“Politics is in the air, but we will combine politics and governance,” Mr Shettima said.

Mr Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for London. He spent a week there before traveling to Paris, France, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron, businessman Vincent Bolloré, and other business leaders.

He also witnessed the signing of an agreement between Ogun State Government and DP World for a proposed deep seaport and economic zone in Ogun Waterside.

The president returned to Nigeria on September 29, arriving at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos ahead of Nigeria’s 66th independence celebration. He dismissed worries about his health as political rumors and said he is healthy and ready to work.

“Rumor will always be emanating from politics, but the facts remain, I’m here. Healthy, sound, and ready to go,” he said. “I am ready to kick, ready to work. There’s nothing wrong.”