G20 leaders gathered in Johannesburg this week, but Nigeria’s attention stayed firmly at home.
Consequently, Vice President Kashim Shettima left Abuja on Friday to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the summit, while the President focused on tackling urgent security challenges in Kebbi and Kwara States.
G20 Summit Representation
The invitation came from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who currently chairs the G20.
The two-day summit, held on November 22-23 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, will bring together leaders from the world’s 20 largest economies, along with representatives from the European Union, African Union, and major international financial institutions.
Shettima plans to return to Nigeria immediately after the summit, according to his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Communications, Stanley Nkwocha.
Security Challenges At Home
Earlier, President Tinubu postponed both the G20 and the 7th AU–EU Summit in Luanda, Angola, because violent incidents demanded his attention.
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On November 19, 2025, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained in a statement that bandits abducted 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi and attacked worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara.
In response, Tinubu deployed additional security forces to the affected areas and instructed police to track down the attackers.
New Abduction Reports
Then, on Friday morning, gunmen abducted more than 53 students and staff from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State.
Authorities continue to confirm the exact number of victims while security agencies assess the situation.
Even as global leaders convene, Nigeria’s escalating security crises demand the President’s immediate attention.
