Many Nigerians have taken to various platforms to express their views on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s frequent foreign trips.
The President spent 23 days abroad in January 2026 alone, having departed Nigeria for Europe on December 28, 2025.
Recall that the President spent nine days in France for End-of-year break and holiday. He proceeded to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, where he spent seven days for the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Week 2026.
He then jetted to Turkey on a state visit where he spent another six days before returning to Nigeria.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi is among those who have criticized Tinubu over his incessant foreign trips amid insecurity in Nigeria.
Obi, who said the President had already spent 23 days on foreign trips just in the month of January, stressed that the first month of the year serves as a critical measure of the challenges that lie ahead, decrying that the situation in the country continues to worsen.
A cross-section of Nigerians have now expressed their mixed feelings over the President’s trips.
For Divine Akor, it is outrageous for the President to have spent 23 days outside the country within one month.
He said at a time of crushing inflation, hunger, and worsening insecurity, the statistics raise serious questions and concerns about the fate of Nigerians in the hands of the President.
“I know very well that Tinubu’s protagonists will come up with the usual defense in an attempt to justify such frequent foreign trips by saying- it’s for economic diplomacy, investor talks and global engagement. These are mere gimmicks to exonerate their paymasters.
“We can only accept such propositions or reasons when there is valid evidence of the positive impacts of such foreign trips. Diplomacy, global networking etc, without verifiable results is just a glorified excursion or frequent flying.
“From what I have seen so far, all I can say is that the foreign trip is for a subtle foreign medical care, personal relaxation or running to a serene atmosphere from the volatile political and security situations in Nigeria.
“If we say they’re for global networking and investments, where are the investments such trips have attracted to Nigeria since he started long ago? We see foreign Companies folding up and new investors are not coming as it used to be under President Goodluck Jonathan.
“Where are the jobs created through the frequent trips? Where is the relief Nigerians can feel?” He asked.
Speaking also, Michael Ameh said President Tinubu had preached the need for Nigerians to make sacrifices, asking why the same president cannot show examples by living a life of sacrifices.
According to him, it is not right to preach sacrifice at home while the president is projecting personal comfort abroad, especially when hardship is whipping Nigerians.
“Leadership in crisis demands presence, urgency, and empathy- not prolonged absence. No one says a president shouldn’t travel. But excessive travel during national hardship looks less like strategy and more like detachment. Nigeria doesn’t need more handshakes overseas.
“It needs proactive decision, direction, and delivery at home. How many other world leaders spend such a humongous time in another country? It’s only in Nigeria we see this kind of absurdity every tenure,” he lamented.
He charged the President to make every Nigerian feel the impact of his trips if he claims they are for the good of Nigerians and not personal gains.
“We want to see investors trooping in to Nigeria, we want to see jobs popping up, infrastructure, improved electricity supply, reduction in inflation and overall upsurge in the standard of living.
“If we don’t see, then it is obvious it’s for personal vacation, medical care and so on, which is not healthy for Nigeria,” he added.
On his part, Paul Igbashangev said the President’s incessant foreign trips, especially spending 23 days in the month of January, feels like he is jet-setting more than governing.
He said, “Honestly, I’m a bit concerned about President Tinubu’s foreign trips. I mean, 23 days abroad in January alone? We have got pressing issues at home – insecurity, economic hardship, infrastructure decay… and he’s swanning off to France, UAE, Turkey? Some folks are saying he is out there networking instead of fixing Nigeria.
“Look, I am not saying these trips can’t yield benefits, but where is the tangible outcome for the average Nigerian? Agreements, partnerships…show me the results! He has been president for over two years and we are still struggling.
“Billions spent on foreign trips in two years? That is a lot of money! Shouldn’t he be focusing on making life better for Nigerians instead of racking up travel miles? What do you think, is he doing enough? The answer is no!”
Similarly, Augustine Oyiwona said Nigerians are sceptical about President Tinubu’s frequent visit to foreign countries due to the high cost of such trips -especially during the economic hardship and other domestic issues that need urgent leadership attention like insecurity, hike in fuel prices, unemployment, and rising inflation.
He, however, said that foreign trips are not inherently bad and can be justified if Nigerians can see tangible outcomes.
“Some of the benefits attached to those visits are that it attracts foreign investors to the country’s growing economy and the active engagement of President Tinubu with the highly industrialised countries of the world helps Nigeria to maintain regional and global influence as the giant of Africa.
“Debt talks, trade deals, energy cooperation and security partnerships often require face to face diplomacy. These foreign trips also can improve security cooperation as we recently see between Nigeria and the United States of America,” he added.
In the same vein, Abdulkadir Hassan stressed that one of the functions of a President is to ensure there is a mutual relationship between the country and other international countries.
He stated that the 23-day international trip of President Bola Tinubu to some countries was in line with his exclusive duties, adding that he has visited France, the United Arab Emirate, Turkey, in the month of January to ensure that Nigeria strengthens its bound in economics, security, and social development with these countries.
“It may look absurd to some individuals that Mr President is out of the country for 23 days, but it is very imperative for a leader of a country like Nigeria to visit some international countries to discuss critical and relevant issues.
“It can be noted that the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, ADSW, 2026, serves as a crucial platform for Nigeria to secure investment, accelerate its renewable energy transition, and foster international partnerships for sustainable development.
“Also, the visit to Turkey by Mr President is also an economic acceleration for Nigeria because at the end of the meeting, the two countries signed agreements on diaspora policy, defence cooperation, joint declaration establishing the economy and trade joint committee, halal quality infrastructure, higher education, media and communication, diplomacy academy, among others.
“For this, the trip wasn’t done in isolation but to develop Nigeria and the Nigerians at large,”he stated.
