President Bola Tinubu has spent approximately 261 days outside Nigeria on foreign trips since assuming office in May 2023, while expenditure records show that the Presidency spent about ₦37.64 billion on presidential travel and related expenses between June 2023 and April 2026.
The latest figures emerged as President Tinubu embarked on another three-week vacation in Europe on Sunday, with London, United Kingdom, listed as his first destination.
According to available official travel records and flight data, the latest journey brings the President’s number of foreign trips since May 29, 2023, to 52.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said Tinubu would return to Nigeria after the vacation to participate in preparations for the January 2027 elections. However, the Presidency has not provided details of his full itinerary or confirmed the other European countries he may visit.
An analysis by GovSpend, an accountability platform that monitors public expenditure, showed that the Presidency spent ₦37,639,227,853.51 on presidential trips, logistics, foreign exchange transactions and other travel-related expenses between June 2023 and April 2026.
The expenditure was broken down as follows:
- June–December 2023: ₦9.19 billion
- 2024: ₦25.27 billion
- 2025: ₦2.71 billion
- January–April 2026: ₦477.45 million
The highest expenditure was recorded in 2024, when more than ₦25.26 billion was spent.
A substantial portion of the spending was associated with foreign exchange allocations and the operations of the Presidential Air Fleet.
Records showed that shortly after Tinubu assumed office, several payments were made for presidential trips and related expenses. On June 23, 2023, payments totalling more than ₦150 million were recorded for such purposes.
In July 2023, the Presidential Air Fleet received ₦846.03 million and another ₦674.82 million in foreign exchange transit funding.
Further transactions were recorded in August, including ₦152.37 million for $200,000, ₦228.55 million for $300,000 and ₦146.65 million for $315,300.
An additional ₦250 million was listed as a direct travel expense during the month, while the Presidential Air Fleet received another ₦2 billion and ₦713.22 million in foreign exchange funding.
By September, four separate payments of ₦197.69 million each were processed, with each transaction linked to a $1 million allocation for presidential trips.
Among the notable expenses recorded in November and December was ₦114.24 million paid to Hinterland Travel & Tours Limited for flight tickets.
Tinubu’s Foreign Travels
Before his latest vacation, Tinubu had made 51 foreign trips and visited at least 30 countries, spending about 261 days outside Nigeria.
France and London have featured prominently on his travel itinerary, while the United Arab Emirates has also been a frequent destination.
His international engagements have included summits, state visits, bilateral meetings, investment discussions, diplomatic activities, working tours and private vacations.
Tinubu’s 2023 Trips
Tinubu’s first foreign trip as President was to Paris, France, from June 20 to 24, 2023, where he attended the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact.
In July, he travelled to Guinea-Bissau for an ECOWAS summit and later visited Kenya for the African Union mid-year coordination meeting.
He visited the Republic of Benin in August for its Independence Anniversary.
In September, Tinubu travelled to India for the G20 Leaders’ Summit before proceeding to the United Arab Emirates. He later visited New York for the 78th United Nations General Assembly.
His 2023 itinerary also included Germany for the G20 Compact with Africa conference, Saudi Arabia for the Saudi-Africa Summit and Guinea-Bissau for its 50th independence anniversary.
He returned to France for a state visit from November 27 to December 1 before travelling to Dubai for COP28.
Tinubu’s 2024 Travels
The President began 2024 with a trip to France, where he spent about two weeks from January 24 to February 6, before travelling to Ethiopia for the African Union summit.
He subsequently visited Qatar between February 29 and March 4 for an official state visit.
In April, Tinubu travelled to Senegal for the inauguration of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye before visiting the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.
His engagements also took him to the United Kingdom and France around late April and May.
In May, he attended the inauguration of Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby.
Other countries visited during the year included South Africa, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, China and the United Kingdom.
Tinubu’s China trip lasted from August 29 to September 6, during which he attended the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. He later travelled to the UK for an engagement with King Charles III.
Tinubu’s 2025 Foreign Engagements
In January 2025, Tinubu travelled to Ghana for the inauguration of President John Mahama.
He also visited the United Arab Emirates for Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and Tanzania for the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit.
France and Ethiopia were also part of his itinerary, followed by an extended working tour of France and the United Kingdom.
In May, he travelled to Vatican City for the inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV.
The President later embarked on a historic state visit to Saint Lucia before travelling to Brazil.
Japan and Brazil were also among his destinations for the TICAD9 summit and a state visit.
From September 4 to 17, Tinubu embarked on another working vacation in France and the UK.
On December 28, he left Lagos for an end-of-year holiday in France, which extended into January 2026.
Tinubu’s 2026 Travels
Tinubu began 2026 with an extended stay abroad, spending 22 days outside Nigeria in January alone, including about 10 days in France as part of his end-of-year vacation.
He also travelled to the UAE from January 12 to 17 for Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and to Türkiye from January 26 to 31 for a state visit.
The Türkiye trip was described as his 47th foreign trip.
During the visit, Tinubu met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with Nigeria and Türkiye signing nine agreements covering trade, energy, media and higher education.
In March, Tinubu travelled to the United Kingdom on a state visit, where a £746 million agreement was signed to modernise the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.
In May, he embarked on another international tour covering France, Kenya and Rwanda.
According to the State House, he left Abuja on May 2 for France before proceeding to Nairobi for the Africa-France Summit.
He later visited Kenya from May 11 to 13 for the Africa Forward Summit, which was co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto.
From Kenya, he travelled to Rwanda, where he participated in the Africa CEO Forum from May 13 to 16.
Presidency Defends Tinubu’s Vacation
The Presidency has defended Tinubu’s latest vacation, describing it as an opportunity for the President to rest after months of dealing with major national issues.
Speaking to journalists at the airport, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the holiday would allow Tinubu to recharge ahead of the intense political activities expected before the 2027 elections.
Dare described the vacation as a “well-deserved leave” and said the President had spent months addressing issues relating to governance, particularly security and the economy.
He stressed that Tinubu would remain engaged with developments in Nigeria while abroad.
According to Dare, the President would continue to receive daily briefings from ministers, service chiefs and other officials responsible for critical national decisions.
The Presidency therefore maintains that Tinubu’s absence from the country will not prevent him from monitoring government affairs.
READ ALSO:
