Nigeria, Sept. 21 -- The Presidency has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu's decision to skip the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the third consecutive year is linked to any restriction on his travel to the United States.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Osodi, said Mr Tinubu's absence from the 81st UN General Assembly would not diminish Nigeria's diplomatic standing or its role in African affairs.

Mr Osodi spoke on Channels Television's Sunday Politics programme on Sunday, shortly after the Presidency announced that Vice President Kashim Shettima would lead Nigeria's delegation to the UNGA in New York.

He said the President's attention was also required at home,...