Scandalous Excess: Tinubu’s N2.3 Billion Lavish Foreign Travel Bill Exposed. (Photo/Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Abuja, EPICSTORIAN – President Bola Tinubu has reportedly spent N2.3 billion on foreign travels and related expenses in just six months, GovSpend data revealed.
Published records by Govspend, analytics platform by the BudgIT Foundation, said, President Tinubu’s foreign travel expenditures ramped up to N2,346,623,000 (N2.3 ) from February 21 to July 19, 2024.
These outrageous payments amounting to N2.3 billion Squandered within six months include:
– February 21, 2024: N300,000,000 for January 2024 expenses.
– February 24, 2024: N250,000,000 and subsequent payments totaling N42,379,100, N9,484,310, N25,393,490, and N34,185,400 for trips.
– March 15, 2024: Multiple payments totaling N106,422,600, N5,505,100, N5,001,700, and N65,474,000 for travel expenses.
– May 17, 2024: Payments totaling N51,533,300, N221,240,500, N53,211,300, and N21,189,600 for travel expenses, with an additional N350,000,000 on May 29, 2024.
– July 13 and 19, 2024: Payments of N350,000,000 and N7,520,000, respectively, for travel-related costs.
The government spent additional N2,902,314,310.35 between February 24 to March 15, 2024 on foreign currency for travels by President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and the First Lady Remi Tinubu to visit various destinations, including Switzerland, France, and Ethiopia.
Where did the N2.3 Billion Spending by president Tinubu actually go
Detailed expenses incurred for these visited locations include:
– February 24, 2024: N750,000,000 for $1,271,997 for a trip to Dubai.
– N1,041,240,840.04 for $692,265 for a trip to Ethiopia.
Also Read: BREAKING: President Tinubu Embarks on Official Visit to France
– N426,884,394.69 for $483,277 for a Vice President’s trip to Switzerland.
Such extravagant public expenditures made by Tinubu’s administration is considered rather insensitive to the needs of the citizens, sparking outrage.
It’s, however, appalling that president Tinubu’s government would incur such spending despite soaring inflation, hunger and widespread hardship faced by Nigerian households at this time.
Recently, the government approved a new national minimum wage of N70,000 after failing to take into account the demands of NLC and its proposed minimum wage threshold.
The government initially insisted to pay N62,000, which was kicked against due to the fact that the minimum wage doesn’t reflect on the current economic reality in the economy.
N70,000, was yet viewed as not enough given the continuous loss of the Nigerian purchasing power arising from fuel price hike, removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange rate positions against the Naira currency value, leading to nationwide protests calling for end bad governance.
It’s, however, appalling that president Tinubu’s government would incur such spending despite soaring inflation, hunger and widespread hardship faced by Nigerian households at this time.
