Tinubu's Foreign Travels Cost ₦37.64bn Over Three Years

Since assuming office in May 2023, President Bola Tinubu has completed 52 foreign journeys, with approximately 261 days spent outside Nigeria in total. Between June 2023 and April 2026, the presidency disbursed ₦37.64 billion for travel-related activities, as documented through GovSpend's analysis of expenditure records.

This accountability platform tracked spending on airfare, logistics, foreign exchange transactions, and operations tied to the Presidential Air Fleet. Travel expenditure varied considerably throughout the reviewed timeframe.

The second half of 2023 saw the presidency allocate ₦9.19 billion toward such costs. A dramatic increase occurred during 2024, when spending climbed to ₦25.27 billion—marking the highest annual total during the period.

Following this peak, 2025 expenditures dropped significantly to ₦2.71 billion. From January through April 2026, only ₦477.45 million was recorded.

Foreign exchange allocations and maintenance of the Presidential Air Fleet drove much of the 2024 spike. On Sunday, Tinubu embarked on his latest foreign excursion, departing Abuja for a three-week holiday across Europe, with the United Kingdom serving as his initial stop.

The presidency classified this journey as both annual leave and a working vacation. This trip follows closely on Vice President Kashim Shettima's completion of his own two-week vacation abroad.

GovSpend records provided the travel expenditure data, encompassing all presidential journeys, associated logistical expenses, and foreign exchange dealings recorded at the State House over the period in question. The Presidential Air Fleet represented a major component of the overall travel budget, particularly during 2024 when travel spending reached its maximum.