President Tinubu's Travel Budget Raises Eyebrows: Here's What You Need To Know

Scope 03 Apr 2025

Big Numbers for Presidential Travel: What’s in the 2025 Budget?

Hey there, let’s talk about some big numbers. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to allocate a whopping ₦6.1 billion for international travel alone in the 2025 budget. That’s right, folks—billions with a "B." According to the approved budget, this is just the beginning. The domestic travel budget is also pretty hefty at ₦873 million, bringing the total travel budget to a staggering ₦7 billion. That’s a lot of miles, and a lot of money.

Vice President Shettima’s Travel Budget: A Closer Look

Now, let’s shift our focus to the Vice President, Kashim Shettima. He’s not far behind in terms of travel expenses. The budget projects that he’ll spend ₦1.314 billion on international travel and an additional ₦417.488 million on domestic travel. These figures have sparked quite a bit of conversation, especially given the country’s economic challenges and the need to manage resources wisely.

Concerns Mount Over Presidential Travel Costs

Here’s the thing: while travel is essential for diplomacy and national interests, many Nigerians are raising concerns about the financial implications. In a report by SaharaReporters, it was revealed that the Tinubu administration spent a jaw-dropping ₦36 billion on international travel alone in 2024. Breaking it down, ₦12.2 billion was earmarked for "international travel and transport (training)," while ₦24.19 billion was allocated for "international travel and transport (other)." That’s a lot of flights, meetings, and diplomatic engagements.

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On the local front, the numbers are just as eye-catching. The State House allocated ₦15.8 billion for "local travel and transport (training)" and ₦31.2 billion for "local travel and transport (other)." All in all, the total spending on both local and international travel hit ₦83 billion. That’s a significant chunk of the budget, and it’s got people talking.

A Recent Trip to France: Was It Worth It?

President Tinubu, along with First Lady Oluremi and other top officials, recently traveled to France. This trip, like many others, has been under scrutiny. However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, is defending the President’s travel agenda. During a live interview on Channels TV, Ambassador Tuggar emphasized that Nigeria has the resources to support these trips and that they bring significant benefits to the nation.

He pointed out that President Tinubu’s trips have had a positive impact on the economy. For instance, during a visit to Brazil, the President secured $2 million in investments aimed at boosting the livestock sector and addressing the herders-farmers conflict. Ambassador Tuggar stressed, “Other nations are vying for these investments, but President Tinubu successfully obtained them for Nigeria.”

Breaking Down the Numbers: Where Does the Money Go?

Let’s dive deeper into the numbers. In August 2024, SaharaReporters uncovered that President Tinubu had spent ₦2.3 billion on international travel and associated costs within just six months. From February 21 to July 19, 2024, the total expenses for the President’s foreign trips amounted to ₦2,346,623,000. The GovSpend platform, as reported by the BudgIT Foundation, showed that the State House Headquarters in Abuja made multiple payments for these trips. These included ₦300 million in January, ₦250 million in February, and various payments exceeding ₦9 million on March 15, 2024.

Further expenditures were recorded throughout the year, with significant payments in May and July, including ₦350 million in both months. Additionally, between February 24 and March 15, 2024, the government allocated over ₦2.9 billion for foreign exchange to facilitate travel for President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to countries such as Ethiopia, Switzerland, Liberia, and France, among others.

Is It Worth It? The Debate Continues

So, here’s the big question: is all this travel worth it? While some argue that it’s essential for diplomacy and economic growth, others believe that the funds could be better spent addressing pressing domestic issues. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: transparency and accountability will be key in ensuring that these trips deliver tangible benefits for the Nigerian people.