Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has travelled to Paris, France, six times, set to spend a total of 51 days there, with the current 14-day trip inclusive costing over N630 million in aviation fuel.
While government officials describe these visits as either official, economic, or private, critics argue that the frequent trips lack transparency and are burdening Nigeria’s economy at a time when the country is grappling with severe economic hardship.
As President, Tinubu travelled to Paris on June 20, 2023, for five days and went back on June 24, 2024, for 14 days. He visited again on August 19, 2024, for five days.
He had another trip to Paris again on November 27, 2024, lasting five days, followed by an eight-day visit on February 5, 2025. His current trip adds another 14 days to this tally.
The president new aircraft (5N-FGA) is not available for public tracking to establish number of hours done in real time.
However, WikkiTimes’ analysis of the estimated costs associated with the president’s trips reveals significant spending, particularly on jet fuel alone.
Given that the distance between Abuja and Paris is approximately 4,470 kilometres, a round trip covers 8,940 kilometres. Throughout six trips, this amounts to 53,640 kilometres travelled.
At an estimated consumption rate of 12 litres of jet fuel per kilometre, the presidential aircraft used up approximately 648,680 litres of jet fuel.
With the current price of aviation fuel in Nigeria currently around N980 per litre, this means N630,806,400 has been spent solely on jet fuel for these trips.
This figure does not account for additional expenses, including aircraft maintenance, crew allowances, airport taxes, and security arrangements as well as his trips to other countries.
Moreover, Tinubu’s entourage, accommodation, feeding, and personal expenses during these trips significantly increased the financial burden on the Nigerian treasury.
The Burden of Presidential Travels
Nigeria is currently facing economic distress, with inflation at rate 23.18 percent and the naira depreciating against major foreign currencies.
Citizens are grappling with high food prices, fuel subsidy removal, and an increase in electricity tariffs. At such a time, the justification for spending hundreds of millions of naira on repeated trips remains questionable.
While the government officials justified some of these trips on the grounds of attracting foreign investment, critics argued that there is no tangible evidence of economic benefits derived from these visits.
Secrecy and Speculations Over Medical Trips
Another contentious aspect of Tinubu’s trips is the speculation that some of these visits to France were medical-related rather than official engagements.
Since his election campaign, there have been lingering concerns about his health status, which his handlers have consistently downplayed.
Tinubu’s repeated visits to France remain shrouded in secrecy, fueling speculations that he is using public funds for private health concerns without transparency.
Given that Nigeria has so many underfunded healthcare institutions, the idea that the nation’s leader frequently travels abroad for healthcare – if true – would highlight a huge government failure.
Many Nigerians lack access to basic medical facilities, with underpaid doctors and a worsening brain drain in the health sector.
WikkiTimes’ analysis has earlier revealed how Nigeria’s healthcare system crisis has continued to deepen with more doctors and other professionals seeking better opportunities abroad.
The report discovered that health professionals are relocating en masse to the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, among many other countries with better packages and conditions of service.
If indeed Tinubu’s trips were medical-related, it would expose the government’s failure to invest in the country’s own healthcare infrastructure.
For critics, Nigerians deserve to know the full cost of these trips, the justification for each visit, and the actual benefits to the nation or it could be seen as wasteful spending at a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling to survive.
Also, with 51 days to be spent in France alone in 20 months, Tinubu has spent nearly one-twelfth of his time in office outside Nigeria.
