Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s President, Implements Ban on Overseas Trips for Officials
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu plans to implement a three-month suspension on ministers and other government officials from embarking on publicly funded foreign trips. The decision stems from Tinubu’s concerns regarding the escalating expenses associated with such travels, as stated by his chief of staff.
Scheduled to commence on April 1st, the ban reflects a response to criticisms leveled against President Tinubu’s administration, particularly concerning its frequent overseas visits. A notable instance was the sponsorship of over 400 delegates to attend the COP28 climate conference in Dubai last November, which drew considerable backlash, especially on social media platforms.
Since assuming office in May 2023, President Tinubu has undertaken more than 15 foreign trips, incurring significant expenditure. Reports suggest that within the initial six months of his presidency, he spent approximately 3.4 billion naira ($2.2 million), exceeding the allocated budget for 2023 by 36%.
Femi Gbajabiamila, Tinubu’s chief of staff, emphasized that the travel ban aims to alleviate expenses amidst Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges, marked by a severe cost-of-living crisis. The restriction on official travel represents Tinubu’s latest measure to address public discontent, following an earlier announcement in January to reduce the size of official travel delegations by about 60%, including downsizing his own entourage.
Once implemented, the ban will limit government officials’ foreign trips to those deemed absolutely necessary, subject to President Tinubu’s approval at least two weeks in advance. Gbajabiamila underscored that the cessation of travel will encourage officials to focus on their respective duties for effective service delivery.
However, the announcement does not address whether President Tinubu intends to curtail his own overseas travels, which have previously been defended as crucial for addressing economic challenges. Despite criticisms, Tinubu and his representatives have maintained that these trips play a vital role in tackling the very issues he is accused of neglecting.
