The President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu placed a temporary ban on foreign travels by public officials under the employment of the federal government, starting from April 1, 2024
President Bola Tinubu announced a three-month travel ban on all cabinet members and government officials.
In an official communication with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila on last week, the president noted that the decision was as a result of the current economic realities in the country.
Frequent foreign trips by President Tinubu and officials of his administration have been widely criticized in the country. Tinubu has traveled abroad at least 15 times since he was sworn in as president in May last year.
The Nigerian president has spent at least 3.4 billion naira (about $2.2 million) on domestic and foreign travel in the first six months of his term in office, more than 36 percent of the total annual budget for his 2023 tour, according to a report in the country’s Punch newspaper last January. .
Femi Bajabiamila said the travel ban would reduce the cost of Nigeria’s current economic challenges and responsible financial management and West African country is grappling with its worst cost-of-living crisis in decades.
The country’s ongoing economic crisis has created a lot of suffering and anger among the people. Tinubu has imposed a three-month ban on foreign travel by government officials in his latest attempt to deal with intense public criticism.
Earlier, in January, the Nigerian president also announced a 60 percent reduction in the number of foreign travel delegations of government officials at state expense.
All government officials who intend to go on any public funded international trip must seek and obtain presidential approval at least two weeks prior to embarking on any such trip, which must be deemed absolutely necessary.
