A review of data from the Open Treasury Portal by SaharaReporters has revealed that the Bola Tinubu-led presidency spent N36 billion on international travels in 2024.
According to the State House Headquarters expenditure breakdown, N12.2 billion was allocated to “international travel and transport (training),” while N24.19 billion was spent on “international travel and transport (others).”
In total, the State House headquarters spent N36.3 billion on international travels during the 2024 fiscal year.
Additionally, local travel and transport costs were substantial, with N15.8 billion spent on “local travel and transport (training)” and N31.2 billion on “local travel and transport (others).” Altogether, the combined total for both local and international travel amounted to N83 billion, according to the Open Treasury Portal data.
The high cost of travel by the presidency has raised concerns, especially amid claims of financial constraints in Nigeria.
Peter Obi, a prominent figure from the opposition party, recently voiced concerns about the frequency of trips taken by the President.
SaharaReporters also reported that the overhaul of the presidential aircraft’s engines is expected to cost the country N8.6 billion in 2025.
Amid growing concerns on expenditure incurred due to travels by the Presidency, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, defended the presidency’s foreign trips, insisting that President Tinubu should embark on even more international travels.
Speaking during a recent live broadcast on Channels TV, monitored by SaharaReporters, Ambassador Tuggar emphasised that the country has sufficient funds to support additional travels for the President and his cabinet members.
The minister highlighted the positive impact of President Tinubu’s previous foreign trips, noting that they have significantly benefited Nigeria’s economy.
He pointed to a particular instance where President Tinubu secured $2 million in investments during a visit to Brazil, emphasising that this investment, aimed at developing the livestock sector, is crucial in addressing challenges such as the herders-farmers crisis.
He remarked, “Other countries are chasing after these investments, but President Tinubu was able to secure them for Nigeria.”
He further argued that the benefits of these international travels far outweigh the costs, saying, “I would rather say we are not travelling enough; we should do more. Nigeria has the money. How much does travelling cost compared to the benefits?”
In August 2024, SaharaReporters reported that President Tinubu had spent a staggering N2.3 billion on foreign trips and related expenses over just six months.
Data obtained from the GovSpend platform, provided by the BudgIT Foundation, revealed that between February 21 and July 19, 2024, the President’s foreign trip expenses amounted to N2,346,623,000.
The State House Headquarters in Abuja also made several payments for presidential trips during this period, including N300 million in January 2024, N250 million in February, and a series of payments totalling N9 million and more on March 15, 2024.
Additional payments for presidential trips were made throughout the year, including significant sums in May and July, with one notable payment of N350 million in both May and July for these expenses.
Furthermore, between February 24 and March 15, 2024, the government spent over N2.9 billion on foreign exchange for President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for trips to Ethiopia, Switzerland, Liberia, France, Côte d’Ivoire, and other destinations.
