Political figures in Nigeria have a track record of exploiting tax-payers funds to finance regular travel for business or medical examinations.
It is inevitable to come to the conclusion that frequent international travel is a waste of public money and is only done for sightseeing when one considers the frequency of foreign travel in relation to the rate of economic growth, particularly the influx of foreign investors into the nation.
Additionally, President Bola Tinubu is following in the footsteps of his predecessors, prioritizing foreign travel as a pillar of his government. Many had anticipated that Tinubu’s methods of governing would be a radical change from what Nigerians were accustomed to, but it appeared that they were let down.
Many critics have recommended President Tinubu to address the nation’s pressing issues instead of squandering money intended to address issues like unstable energy, kidnapping, murders, banditry, cultism, robbery, and many more by traveling abroad. They also said that once Nigeria’s problems are fixed, investors will flood the nation, certain that, no matter what kind of business they establish, they will make their money peacefully.
According to information obtained by WITHIN NIGERIA, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been to nine (9) different nations in his first seven months in office. The reporter has included a list of the nine (9) countries he has visited along with the events he attended in each of those countries. He visited France twice.
FRANCE
President Bola Tinubu left Nigeria’s shores on June 17, 2023, and flew to Paris, France, to attend the Global Financing Pact Summit.
This is Tinubu’s first official trip abroad as president of Nigeria following his inauguration on May 29.
Unverified rumors also claim that the president’s trip was a “plot” to see his team of physicians in order to receive treatment for a purported illness that rendered him unable to function.
In addition to attending the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, Tinubu also intends to utilize the trip to draw foreign direct investment to the nation, according to Dele Alake, the former presidential spokesperson and current Minister of Solid Minerals.
GUINEA BISSAU
President Bola Tinubu visited Bissau, the capital of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, on July 8, 2023, in order to attend the 63rd ordinary session of the ECOWAS authority of heads of state and government.
President Bola Tinubu left the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on November 16, 2023, and flew to Bissau, the capital of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, to celebrate the nation’s 50th anniversary of independence.
President Bola Tinubu ended his official trip to Paris, France on June 24, 2023, and then left for a private visit to London, United Kingdom. While in Paris, he allegedly held multiple meetings and engagements.
KENYA
President Bola Tinubu went to Nairobi, Kenya on July 15, 2023, to attend the 5th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union, together with other African leaders.
Femi Gbajabiamila, Tinubu’s chief of staff, and Dele Alake, who serves as the minister for solid minerals and was previously his special adviser on special duties, communication, and strategy, also accompanied him.
BENIN REPUBLIC
On July 31, 2023, President Bola Tinubu went to Cotonou to mark the Republic of Benin’s 63rd anniversary of independence.
Along with a few other high-ranking government officials, President Patrice Talon welcomed President Tinubu upon his arrival on Tuesday morning.
A few of the president’s political assistants and six governors—Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq (Kwara); Nasir Idris (Kebbi); and Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger)—were among the entourage.
INDIA
President Bola Tinubu left for New Delhi, the Indian capital, on September 5, 2023, for a six-day official visit. Among his activities during that time was attending the G-20 Leaders’ Summit.
Around 6:40 p.m. local time, or 2:10 p.m. Nigerian time, the Boeing 737 carrying the President and his entourage landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.
NEW YORK
President Bola Tinubu attended the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 18, 2023, after landing at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.
Arriving just before 7 p.m. local time, the President was greeted by the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and other government representatives.
GERMANY
President Bola Tinubu left the capital city of Abuja on November 17, 2023, to attend the G20 “Compact with Africa” (CwA) conference in Berlin, Germany.
SAUDI ARABIA
President Bola Tinubu traveled to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on November 9, 2023, to attend the Saudi-Africa summit.
Tinubu came in the Middle Eastern nation on Thursday, according to presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale, as part of attempts to draw in foreign direct investment and raise money for the construction of necessary infrastructure.
