An analysis of expenses, conducted using GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyzes federal government spending, revealed that Chief Bola Tinubu, Kashim Shettima, and Remi Tinubu spent a total of N8.64 billion on local and foreign trips between June 2023 and March 2024.
According to the analysis, over N5.24 billion was spent on local and international travel between January and March 2024.
It disclosed that N1.35 billion was allocated for presidential trips and other related expenses in the first quarter of the year.
Additionally, N3.53 billion was spent on foreign exchange for 10 international trips, and N637.85 million was paid to two travel agencies for the purchase of air tickets for both local and international presidential travel.
These expenses, processed through the State House transit account, did not include the allowances for Tinubu’s entourage.
Furthermore, the government spent N12.59 billion on maintaining the presidential air fleet within the same period.
It’s noteworthy that Tinubu had already spent N3.4 billion on travel within the first six months of his tenure.
This amount is 36 percent more than the N2.49 billion allocated for presidential travel in the 2023 budget. Thus, a total of N8.64 billion was spent on local and foreign trips between June 2023 and March 2024.
The report also highlighted that Tinubu received N650 million as an honorarium.
Nigerians have raised concerns about the frequency of Tinubu’s travels, calling for tangible outcomes from these trips.
In their first seven months in office, Tinubu and Shettima visited 16 countries, collectively spending 91 days on foreign engagements. Specifically, Tinubu visited Paris, France (twice); London, United Kingdom; Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (twice); Nairobi, Kenya; Porto-Novo, Benin Republic; New Delhi, India; Abu Dhabi and Dubai, United Arab Emirates; New York, USA; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Berlin, Germany, spending a total of 55 days abroad.
Meanwhile, Kashim Shettima represented Tinubu in Italy, Russia, South Africa, Cuba, China, and the US, spending 36 days abroad in 2023.
Reacting to the travel expenses, financial expert Olorunfemi Idris emphasized that presidential trips can strengthen diplomatic ties, promote national interests, and attract foreign investment.
He noted that Tinubu’s recent trips resulted in agreements on security, economic development, and climate change, as well as securing investments in infrastructure and energy projects.
“Presidential trips can foster relationships with other countries, leading to increased cooperation and trade. Tinubu can advocate for Nigeria’s interests on the international stage, securing agreements and partnerships,” Idris stated.
However, Idris also highlighted the high cost of these trips, which can divert funds from essential areas like healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.
The N8.64 billion spent on Tinubu’s trips in eight months alone could have been used for healthcare, education, or infrastructure development,” he remarked. “Additionally, security concerns and the need for extensive arrangements can strain resources. The effectiveness of presidential trips depends on the outcomes achieved and the follow-up actions taken.”
Professor of Economics Cletus Agu echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of evaluating whether the money was spent judiciously. He argued that there is nothing inherently wrong with the expenditure if it yields positive economic impacts.
“What you should ask is why is he spending such an amount? Of what use and purpose? He might be spending N10 million, but the impact on the economy may be N100 million. If he is only going from one place to another, that will be terrible because people are suffering now, but if he is spending the money with the view to making Nigeria better, and his vision is to improve the economy, there is nothing wrong with it. There is a saying that we use money to find money, so if he is spending it to improve the economy, there is nothing wrong with it,” Agu explained.
Economist Dr. Akin Akinleye also called on the government to cut irrelevant expenses given the country’s economic situation.
“They have the right to travel, but they have to prioritize the economy because it has not been in a good state in the last few months. They need to cut irrelevant expenses. Any traveling that will not have any economic benefit to the nation should be dropped,” he advised.
