Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim, on Wednesday said President Bola Tinubu has confirmed his attendance at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.
This was as a source familiar with the discussions told our correspondent that a chance meeting with United States President Donald Trump appears likely, as Tinubu is expected to be seated a few seats away from the American president in the front row of the General Assembly Hall.
Ibrahim disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after meeting with Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja. The former lawmaker had visited the Villa on Tuesday and returned on Wednesday to conclude discussions with the President.
He said, “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 disclosed that Tinubu’s address was scheduled for around 10:45 a.m. New York time, approximately 3:45 pm Nigerian time, a schedule he said would enable Nigerians to watch the address live during waking hours.
“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 a question by our correspondent on a potential encounter with Trump, Ibrahim said, “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.”
However, a source familiar with the seating arrangements told _The PUNCH_ that the proximity could lead to a chance meeting between the two leaders, who have not met publicly before.
“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.
In his address, Ibrahim said Tinubu would attend several side events already scheduled for him.
“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.
On West Africa’s border security, which Ibrahim said Tinubu raised during the discussion, the Chairman of the UN Budget Committee said the President had issued specific directives and was committed to using Nigeria’s UN engagement to advance a regional border policing framework.
He said, “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 UN budget for 2027 at the General Assembly session in his capacity as Chairman of the UN Budget Committee, a role that has placed Nigeria at the centre of one of the multilateral body’s most consequential annual processes.
Tinubu’s attendance at the 81st UNGA would end a two-year absence from the world’s most prominent diplomatic gathering. At the 79th UNGA in September 2024, the Presidency said Tinubu chose to focus on domestic matters, particularly in the aftermath of devastating flooding across multiple Nigerian states. He directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation and deliver the national statement.
At UNGA 79, Shettima delivered Nigeria’s national statement and attended key side events. The President also delegated Shettima to attend the 80th UNGA in September 2025, where the Vice President again represented Nigeria in New York.
In the national statement delivered on behalf of Tinubu at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, the President warned that the UN’s credibility was being undermined by the gulf between its words and deeds. He also sought to position Nigeria’s economic transformation as a model for developing nations.
On October 31, 2025, President Trump redesignated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over the persecution of Christians by violent Islamist groups. The White House announced that the United States would “stand ready, willing and able” to defend them. Trump wrote on social media that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria” and that “thousands of Christians are being killed” by radical Islamists. Critics warned that the designation could pave the way for future sanctions.
Tinubu subsequently said his administration was willing to work with the United States to improve security in the country.