From June 20, 2023, when President Bola Tinubu made his first foreign trip to Paris to date, he has embarked on at least 18 trips outside the shore of Nigeria.
Like former President Muhammadu Buhari, who embarked on over 100 international trips during his reign, here is President Bola Tinubu’s foreign travel history from May 29, 2023, to the present.
Foreign Trips Before Inauguration
The former federal lawmaker, ex-governor of Lagos, and a political kingmaker, now a “king” had embarked on some foreign trips some days after he was declared the winner of the February elections.
His media aide’s statements indicated that he planned his foreign trips to attract foreign investors to the new government that he would lead.
He had been to London, Saudi Arabia, Paris, and Europe before his swearing-in. His pre-swearing-in trips were not under Nigeria’s bill.
Tinubu Travel History in 2024
May 23:
- Country: Chad Republic
- No. of days: 0 days
- Purpose: To attend the inauguration of President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno as the democratically elected president of Chad
May 2:
After his Saudi Arabia WEF meeting, the president on Thursday, May 2, 2024, reportedly landed in France for medical reasons, according to SaharaReporters. The media team of the president was mute about it.
The online news platform reported that he had been in the UK before heading to France.
“The President is in France to see his doctors,” a source was quoted as saying. It was not an official visit. He returned to Nigeria on May 8.
April 26:
- Country: Saudi Arabia
- No of days: 12 days
- Purpose: For World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting, which focuses on Global collaboration, growth, and energy for development.
April 23:
- Country: The Kingdom of the Netherlands on an official visit on the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte.
- No of days: 3 days
- Mission: To explore opportunities for collaboration and partnerships between the two countries, especially in the area of port management operations.
April 2:
- Country: Senegal
- No of days: 0 day
- Mission: To attend the inauguration of Senegal’s President-elect, Bassirou Faye, the youngest democratically elected African president.
February 29:
- Country: Qatar
- No of days: 4 days
Purpose: He was on a two-day visit to Qatar at the invitation of the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. To further strengthen cooperation between Qatar and Nigeria in the area of security, cultural exchange, and economic development and signing of several agreements including education, culture, solid minerals, digital economy etc
February 15
- Country: Ethiopia
- No of days: 4 days
January 24:
- Country: France
- No of days: 14 days
Purpose: An online media, Saharareporters, quoted an insider as saying the president was on medical leave in France.
His travel history in 2023
In 2023, President Tinubu spent 50 Days outside of Nigeria as follows:
November 28:
- Country: UAE
- No of days: 6 days
- Purpose: For COP28 Climate Summit or the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC.
November 18:
- Country: Germany (Berlin)
- No. of days: 4 days
- Purpose: To attend the G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) Conference.
November 15:
- Country: Guinea-Bissau
- No of days: 0 day
- Purpose: For the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary and Armed Forces Day
November 9:
- Country: Saudi Arabia (Riyadh)
- No of days: 7 days
- Purpose: To attend the COP28 Climate Summit took place between December 1 through December 2, 2023. He returned to Nigeria on December 5, 2023.
September 18:
- Country: United States
- No of days: 11 days
- Purpose: To attend the 78th United Nations General Assembly.
September 10:
- Country: United Arab Emirate (UAE)
- No. of days: 2 days
- Purpose: To resolve the issue of a visa ban on Nigeria. He also discussed bilateral relations with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of UAE.
September 4:
- Country: India
- No. of days: 6 days
- Purpose: To attend the G-20 Leaders Summit on the special invitation of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
August 1:
- Country: Republic of Benin (Cotonou)
- No. of days: 0 day
- Purpose: For Benin Republic’s 63rd independence anniversary.
July 15:
- Country: Kenya (Nairobi) on July 15, 2023.
- Number of days: 2 days
- Purpose: To participate in the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (5thMYCM) of the African Union (AU), the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Regional Mechanisms (RMs), and the African Union Member States.
July 8:
- Country: Republic of Guinea-Bissau.
- No of days: 2 days
- Purpose: For the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He also visited the Nigerian contingent stationed in the country under the ECOWAS Stabilisation Force.
June 24:
- Country: United Kingdom
- No of days: 3 days
On Saturday, June 24, 2023, Tinubu was in London for a private visit. The Nigerian leader was initially scheduled to fly from Paris, France, to Nigeria “but proceed to London, United Kingdom, for a short private visit,” his Special Adviser said.
And on Tuesday, June 27, he returned to Lagos, Nigeria, for the Eid-el-Kabir festivities.
June 20:
- Country: France
- No of days: 7 days.
Tinubu’s first official presidential foreign trip was to Paris, France, on Tuesday, June 20, 2023.
Millions of Nigerians and the rest of the world wait in anticipation for the administration of Tinubu to renew Nigeria’s hope and change some of the unfavorable economic policies of his predecessor, we shall track his foreign trips and if they are making a meaningful impact on the country’s growth.
How Much Will Tinubu Spend On Foreign Trips in 2024?
Tinubu budgeted the sum of N6.992 billion for foreign trips, according to the details of the 2024 Appropriation Bill submitted to the National Assembly on November 29, 2023.
N638.535 million is budgeted for travels within Nigeria, making it a total of N7.630 billion on local and international travels for the president alone.
His vice and his appointees will also be spending big on foreign travel and touring the country in 2024.
Come back for an update when the Nigerian president travels again.
Conclusion:
Nigeria’s presidents are known for their inclination to attend international meetings and conferences. Some of them go as far as participating in events that could typically be delegated to the Minister of Foreign Affairs; however, they choose to be present themselves.