Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, confidently told journalists in July that President Bola Tinubu would attend the United Nations General Assembly and sit “very, very close” to US President Donald Trump in the front row.
That prediction has now drawn fresh attention as Tinubu is not attending the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.
Instead, Vice President Kashim Shettima is leading Nigeria’s delegation to the United Nations.
In a 46 second AIT News clip dated 16 July 2026, Ibrahim spoke to journalists after meeting Tinubu and said the president had agreed to attend the UNGA meeting.
Ibrahim said Tinubu was expected to use the gathering to address the world about the success of his reforms in Nigeria.
He also announced planned Nigerian side events focusing on power and energy, education and hospital management.
Ibrahim was particularly confident when discussing Tinubu’s expected position in the General Assembly hall.
Asked about a possible meeting between Tinubu and Trump, he said he could not confirm that the two leaders would meet.
He then stated that Tinubu would be sitting “very, very close” to Trump in the front row of the United Nations General Assembly.
Ibrahim added that he would not reveal how the arrangement had been made but insisted that the Nigerian president would occupy a front row seat.
He also said Tinubu was expected to deliver his address at about 10:45 a.m. New York time, which would be afternoon in Nigeria.
The expected appearance, however, did not take place.
By mid September, Tinubu was reported to be on leave in France, while Shettima travelled to New York to lead Nigeria’s delegation at the UN General Assembly.
The change has brought renewed attention to Ibrahim’s July remarks, particularly his confident prediction that Tinubu would attend personally and sit close to Trump.
The old video has since resurfaced as Nigeria is represented at the UNGA by the vice president rather than the president Ibrahim had said would be there.
