Tinubu Spent 180 Of His 580 Days In Office Abroad – Peter Obi

Mr Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, has raised concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s frequent overseas trips, which he claims account for over 30% of Tinubu’s time in office.

Obi highlighted that out of the 580 days President Tinubu had been in office as of December 29, 2024, the President spent around 180 days abroad on more than 30 publicly documented trips.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Obi stressed the need for “selfless and exemplary leadership” in 2025 to address Nigeria’s pressing challenges.

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ABN TV reports that President Tinubu, sworn in on May 29, 2023, has spent 584 days in office as of January 2, 2025. During his presidency, Tinubu has visited at least 16 countries, some multiple times, including the UK, UAE, the US, China, and Germany.

In one notable instance, Tinubu visited China on August 29, 2024, for bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Following his China visit, he traveled to the UK, spending seven days before returning to Nigeria on September 14. A month later, he returned to the UK for a two-week working leave, which included a nine-day stay before heading to Paris for what was described as an “important engagement.”

GovSpend’s portal tracking Presidential Villa expenditure revealed that N2.3 billion was spent on foreign trips and related expenses in six months of 2024.

Peter Obi urged President Tinubu to channel similar energy into addressing Nigeria’s internal challenges. “If the President can allocate 20% of 2025, approximately 72 days, to visit each of Nigeria’s 36 states for two days, it would provide valuable insight into the nation’s pressing economic and security issues,” he said.

Obi also suggested that Tinubu consider undergoing medical check-ups at Nigerian hospitals, such as Federal Medical Centres in Sokoto, Calabar, or Umuahia, to assess the state of healthcare firsthand.

The former Anambra State Governor called on Tinubu to travel by road to experience Nigeria’s deteriorating highway conditions. He recalled a similar initiative during his tenure, where he facilitated federal road repairs after taking former President Olusegun Obasanjo on a trip from Awka to Onitsha.

“Visits to tertiary institutions, military formations, and IDP camps will also help the President understand the realities faced by citizens and bolster morale among key sectors,” Obi added.

Tackling Corruption and Debt

Obi emphasized the importance of fighting corruption and ensuring transparency in public procurement and contracts. He also urged the government to tie future loans to productive investments to prevent unsustainable debt accumulation.

“Nigerians need to hear directly from the President, not just through proxies. Regular updates on efforts to improve the nation’s situation are crucial,” Obi said.

Concluding, Obi appealed for a renewed focus on addressing domestic issues, stating that such an approach would demonstrate leadership that prioritizes the welfare of Nigerians above all else.