Abuja, Nigeria – The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has called for President Bola Tinubu to focus more on domestic governance, citing the President’s extensive international travels since taking office.
Obi made this appeal during a media briefing on Thursday in Abuja, where he discussed the state of the nation.
Obi highlighted that out of the approximately 580 days Tinubu had been in office as of December 29, 2024, over 30% (around 180 days) were spent abroad, with the President undertaking more than 30 publicly recorded foreign trips.
While noting the critical role of international diplomacy, Obi urged the President to dedicate at least 20% of 2025 (approximately 72 days) to visit each of Nigeria’s 36 states. This, he said, would enable Tinubu to better understand the nation’s pressing economic, healthcare, and security challenges.
Tinubu’s Extensive Travels
President Tinubu, who was sworn in on May 29, 2023, has visited 16 countries during his tenure, including the UK, UAE, China, India, and the US. Notable trips included bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping in China and participation in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Tinubu’s government spent ₦2.3 billion on foreign trips and related expenses within six months in 2024, according to GovSpend, which documents Presidential Villa expenditures.
Obi’s Recommendations to Tinubu
Peter Obi urged President Tinubu to:
- Tour Nigeria’s Healthcare Facilities: Conduct medical check-ups in national hospitals to assess their conditions and prioritise upgrades.
- Inspect Roads and Infrastructure: Travel by road, such as between Calabar and Uyo or Benin and Warri, to observe the state of highways.
- Visit Military Formations and IDP Camps: Provide morale-boosting assurances to military personnel and displaced Nigerians.
- Engage Tertiary Institutions: Conduct impromptu and planned visits to evaluate educational infrastructure.
- Combat Corruption Aggressively: Focus on transparency, accountability, and ensuring that all future borrowing is tied to regenerative investments with tangible benefits for the nation.
Obi further urged Tinubu to directly address Nigerians regularly, proposing quarterly updates to communicate progress on governance and national issues.
“These actions will bridge the gap between leadership and citizens while demonstrating a commitment to addressing Nigeria’s challenges,” Obi concluded.
