The Presidency spent ₦37.64 billion on presidential trips, logistics, foreign exchange, and travel-related expenses between June 2023 and April 2026, according to an analysis of GovSpend, a public expenditure monitoring platform developed by BudgIT. The disclosure coincides with President Bola Tinubu's departure from Abuja for Europe on a three-week annual vacation, with London as his initial stop.
Breakdown of Travel Expenditure
Official travel records show that President Tinubu has spent approximately 261 days outside the country across 51 foreign trips, visiting at least 30 nations since assuming office on May 29, 2023. The breakdown of travel-related spending reveals that the Presidency incurred ₦9.18 billion in the second half of 2023, ₦25.26 billion in 2024, ₦2.7 billion in 2025, and ₦477.4 million between January and April 2026.
Expenditures peaked in 2024, primarily driven by foreign exchange allocations and operational funding for the Presidential Air Fleet. Additionally, the records show that $553,884 in foreign exchange, valued at ₦700.7 million at applicable rates, was released for overseas travels involving First Lady Oluremi Tinubu between 2023 and 2024.
Reactions to the Spending
Reacting to the findings, Transparency and Accountability Group President Ayo Ologun questioned the legal justification for funding official foreign travels for the First Lady. "Because her office is not recognised by the law, if it is established that public money was spent on supposed official travels, the question should be: what is the duty?" Ologun said. "If it is spent on the wife of the President, that is abuse of power."
The analysis by BudgIT's GovSpend platform highlights the scale of travel-related spending under the current administration, with a significant portion allocated to foreign exchange and the Presidential Air Fleet. The data covers the period from June 2023 to April 2026, providing a detailed account of how public funds were used for official travels.
Implications and Next Steps
The revelations have sparked concerns about the transparency and legality of travel expenditures, particularly those involving the First Lady. As President Tinubu embarks on his latest foreign trip, the spending figures are likely to fuel further public debate over the cost of governance and the need for accountability in public office.
