Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar has defended President Bola Tinubu’s frequent travels, stating that the President needs to travel more to engage with leaders of other nations.
Tuggar addressed criticisms from some Nigerians who believe Tinubu’s trips are excessive and waste public funds under the guise of attracting investors. By May 2024, Tinubu had reportedly spent 96 days abroad since assuming office, with multiple visits to some countries.
The President has traveled to France, the UK, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Benin Republic, India, the UAE, the US, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Ethiopia, Senegal, Qatar, and The Netherlands.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Tuggar emphasized that Tinubu’s travels are necessary, asserting that “he doesn’t travel enough.”
“This administration is still new. He was sworn-in in 2023. In global terms he is still a new President. He needs to interact with his colleagues, fellow heads of state to be able to establish relationships and you can see the fruits of these trips. Look at the benefits.
“You travel once and you get $2bn of investment like he did in Brazil…in fact, we are not travelling enough. I should suggest that we should do more.
“Nigeria has the money. How much does travelling cost compared to the benefits. And how much does it cost when you’re comparing it to the things that the President has already addressed.
“How much were we wasting on fuel subsidy, electricity subsidy and all those subsidies?” The Minister queried.
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