Tinubu UN General Assembly appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, as President Bola Tinubu prepares to address world leaders at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.
Tinubu is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement during the morning session of the high-level General Debate, where he will outline the country’s position on key international and regional issues.
The Nigerian president is listed as the 10th speaker on the provisional programme, with his address expected between 11:30 a.m. and noon New York time, equivalent to about 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Nigerian time.
When Tinubu will address the UN General Assembly
The high-level General Debate is scheduled for September 22 to 28 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The 81st session is expected to attract representatives from all 193 UN member states, including more than 150 heads of state and government.
The theme for this year’s gathering is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is expected to open the high-level debate on September 22, while United States President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak afterwards as the leader of the host country.
For Nigeria, the Tinubu UN General Assembly appearance provides an opportunity for the government to present its position on major international issues and explain some of the policies being pursued by the administration.
Issues Nigeria is expected to raise
Tinubu is expected to address matters affecting Nigeria, Africa and the wider international community.
Economic development, international cooperation, peace and security are expected to feature among the issues discussed during the president’s engagements.
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, had previously confirmed that Tinubu would attend the meeting.
Ibrahim said the president’s participation would enable Nigeria to showcase its ongoing reforms while also drawing international attention to regional security concerns.
One of the issues Nigeria intends to push is border policing across West Africa.
According to Ibrahim, Nigeria is working with the United Nations on a regional initiative aimed at tackling security problems linked to porous borders in the subregion.
Tinubu expected to hold meetings in New York
Beyond his address, the president is expected to participate in several high-level meetings and side events during his stay in New York.
Climate action, rising sea levels and pandemic preparedness are among the issues expected to feature during the various engagements.
Tinubu is also expected to meet outgoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose second term is due to end in December 2026.
The Nigerian president could also meet UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, who has held the position since 2017.
There has also been speculation about a possible meeting between Tinubu and Trump on the sidelines of the General Assembly. However, no official confirmation of such a private engagement has been announced.
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Tinubu returns to UNGA after three years
The 2026 appearance will mark Tinubu’s return to the General Assembly after he personally attended the 78th session in 2023.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the 79th and 80th sessions in 2024 and 2025, delivering Nigeria’s national statement during those meetings.
The 81st General Assembly session formally opened on September 8, while the high-level General Debate begins on September 22.
US records controversy shadows Tinubu’s planned visit
Tinubu’s planned trip to New York comes as renewed attention continues around old US law-enforcement records connected to allegations involving the Nigerian president.
On August 28, the Federal Bureau of Investigation submitted records linked to the matter to Judge Beryl Howell of the US District Court for the District of Columbia.
The records were filed under seal for the judge’s private review and have not been publicly released.
The documents relate to investigations involving multiple individuals and allegations of drug trafficking dating back to the early 1990s.
The FBI stated in a court filing that the records were generated during investigations involving several people suspected of drug-trafficking offences.
However, the submission of the documents to the court does not amount to a finding that Tinubu committed a drug-related offence, nor does it establish that he was convicted of a crime in the United States.
The judge is expected to determine what information, if any, can ultimately be made public.
The case followed an April 2025 order by Judge Howell directing the relevant agencies to search for and process records responsive to Freedom of Information Act requests.
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Presidency rejects criminal-case claims
The controversy has also been fuelled by statements from the US-based policy advisory and lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York.
On August 31, the firm claimed that a proposed private meeting between Tinubu and Trump during the UN General Assembly would not happen, alleging that members of the Trump administration had raised concerns over the old allegations.
The claim has not been presented as an official statement from the US government.
The firm has also claimed that the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration were separately reviewing files relating to the allegations.
The Nigerian Presidency has rejected attempts to portray the FOIA proceedings as a criminal case against Tinubu.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said on September 3 that the dispute concerns access to government records rather than a criminal prosecution.
The Presidency also maintained that the release or withholding of records under the Freedom of Information Act does not, by itself, establish criminal liability.
The government further cited a February 4, 2003 letter from the US Consulate in Lagos stating that an FBI records check at the time found no criminal arrest records, wants or warrants for Tinubu.
Tinubu has continued to deny wrongdoing in relation to the allegations surrounding the old US proceedings.
The president’s September 23 appearance at the United Nations will therefore come against the backdrop of both Nigeria’s diplomatic priorities and renewed international attention surrounding the records controversy.