Introduction
President Bola Tinubu’s travel expenses since taking office on May 29, 2023, have raised concerns, with data from GovSpend indicating significant expenditures exceeding the allocated budget. This report focuses exclusively on the President’s travel-related spending.
Overview of Expenditure
Within the first six months of his presidency, President Tinubu has spent a minimum of N3.4bn on both local and foreign travel. This amount represents a 36% increase over the N2.49bn budgeted for the entire year in the 2023 budget. Despite inheriting the budget midway, he surpassed the allocated amount between June and December 2023.
Specific Expenses:
- Presidential Trips: GovSpend data provides a monthly breakdown of expenses. Notably, the government spent N82.2m in June, N393.3m in August, N287.9m in September, N314.2m in November, and N69.2m in December. No amount was recorded for October.
- Travel Agencies Payments: Two travel tour companies, Hinterland Travels, and Travel Options, received payments totaling N732.8m for the purchase of international and local air tickets. This suggests a potential shift from the use of presidential air fleets for official trips.
- Foreign Exchange Transactions: The President spent N1.53bn on the purchase of foreign exchange, including $5.1m and 300 euros. Notably, on September 5, 2023, the President spent N791m on forex worth $4m, while the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, paid N77.7m for foreign currencies worth $94,314.
Policy Adjustments
Last week, the Presidency announced President Tinubu’s decision to reduce his entourage size by 60% for domestic and international travels. The Special Adviser to the President on Media, Ajuri Ngelale, stated that the President aims to cut costs associated with security delegations.
Destinations Visited
During his first seven months in office, President Tinubu has visited multiple international destinations, including Paris, France (twice); London, the United Kingdom; Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (twice); Nairobi, Kenya; Porto Novo, Benin Republic; Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the United Arab Emirates; New York, the United States of America; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Berlin, Germany. In total, he has spent 55 days on these trips.
Public Response
President Tinubu’s extensive travels, along with the size of his entourage, have faced criticism. The government has defended these trips, emphasizing their role in attracting foreign direct investment to Nigeria.
Conclusion
The data from GovSpend sheds light on the significant travel-related expenses incurred by President Tinubu. As the public scrutinizes these expenditures, the effectiveness of the recently announced measures to reduce costs, particularly in terms of entourage size, will be closely observed.