N701 million spent on Remi Tinubu’s foreign trips in 3 months – Report
Story by Jane AISO
The Federal Government has expended approximately N701 million on foreign trips for Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, over a span of three months, according to reports. This expenditure covered trips to five countries, including two African nations, between November 2023 and March 2024.
The substantial amount includes N77,659,888 allocated for foreign exchange for a trip to the United States on November 17, 2023. Another N149,794,284 was used for a trip to France on January 4, 2024. Additionally, N202,386,198 was spent for a visit to Mozambique in March 2024, while N144,571,785 was allocated for a trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 9, 2024. Furthermore, N126,295,377 was used for a trip to London in March 2024.
The expenditure also includes N314,231,472 allocated for six programmes of the First Lady within four months. Notably, on May 24, 2024, Rock of Ages Total Events Centre Ltd received N131,921,786 for event decoration, while Makeway Nigeria Limited was paid N107,630,000 for multimedia services on May 29, 2024.
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In total, the government’s spending on the First Lady’s trips and programmes amounts to N1,014,939,004 over seven months.
The report has drawn significant criticism. Debo Adeniran, Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, labelled the expenditure as “misappropriation of funds,” arguing that the office of the First Lady is not constitutionally recognised and, therefore, not legally entitled to such funding. Adeniran criticised the National Assembly’s lack of oversight, suggesting that the misuse of public funds is facilitated by legislative complacency.
Eze Onyekper, Director of the Centre for Social Justice, also condemned the spending, questioning the legality of appropriating public resources for an office not recognised by the constitution or any Nigerian law. He stated, “What they are doing is clearly illegal. It is an abuse of office, especially if it is funded from the public treasury.”
The controversy surrounding this expenditure underscores ongoing concerns about government transparency and accountability. Critics argue that such spending undermines public trust and raises questions about the government’s priorities, especially amidst economic challenges facing the country.
Written by Sekinat Musa Abubakar, Editor at Neptune Prime
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