Nigerians have begun to voice concerns over the frequency of President Bola Tinubu’s France trips since his inauguration in 2023.
This comes after the Nigerian President on Thursday jetted out of Abuja to France for the eighth time in two years.
The recent visit was announced in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
According to the statement, Tinubu is embarking on a 10-day working vacation starting today, September 4, 2025.
The statement reads: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja today, September 4, to commence a working vacation in Europe, as part of his 2025 annual leave.
“The vacation will last 10 working days.
“President Tinubu will spend the period between France and the UK and then return to the country.”
While the Presidency described Tinubu’s visit as a “working vacation”, the latest foreign trip has sparked curiosity and criticism among Nigerians.
With France emerging as Tinubu’s most frequented destination, questions have begun to emerge about the true purpose of these visits.
Tinubu’s France trips became a public discourse particularly as reports emerged that the president has spent at least 59 days in France across eight visits since taking office.
Many have begun to link Tinubu’s France trips to his health. Reports suggest that several visits, including those labeled as “private” or “working,” have coincided with medical consultations, a pattern that began before his inauguration.
Recall that Tinubu embarked on a pre-inauguration trip in March 2023 to the American Hospital of Paris, fueling rumors about his health.
Also, the financial implications of Tinubu’s France trips have drawn scrutiny. In 2024 alone, the Tinubu administration reportedly spent N36.3 billion on international travel, with N83 billion allocated to both local and international transport expenses.
Joining the public discourse, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, faulted Tinubu’s latest “10-day working leave.”
Obi pointed out that Tinubu departed the country on Thursday, just six days after returning from another trip during which he spent 15 days outside Nigeria.
Taking to his X handle on Friday, the former governor of Anambra State accused Tinubu of running away from the country’s problems, prioritising his holidays and trips over the lives of Nigerians.
He said: “No holiday is more important than the Nigerian lives you swore to protect. At a time when Nigerians need leadership, empathy, and presence, a president should not choose foreign holidays.
“He is now heading for about his 10th trip to France in two years, this time for his annual holiday. It does look like Mr. President is running away from Nigeria at every slight opportunity. And one would wonder why so much of his two years in office has been spent on holidays or away from the very country he was elected to preside over.
“Meanwhile, at least 79% of Nigerians have been reported to be facing food insecurity — that is over 180 million people going hungry.
“Nigeria, just last month, was declared the worst country to give birth, and just weeks ago, the worst place to live, with the world’s lowest life expectancy. We deserve a president with all hands on deck to solve these issues.
“Across Nigeria, last month alone, while Mr. President was on one of his many trips, over 50 people were killed in the horrifying mosque and village attack in Katsina State, with more than 60 people kidnapped. This excludes the many other bandit attacks and abductions recorded within the same month.
“One would have expected the president to at least visit one of these states upon his return six days ago, or at the very least visit Niger State where, just yesterday, 60 of our citizens — women and young children — died in a boat mishap, with many more still missing.
“What would it have taken the president to make a less than 30-minute trip from Abuja to Niger State in his jet? Mr. President could have at least visited the grieving families before jetting off again. Where is the compassion for Nigerian lives, Mr. President? How many more must die before you preside over the country?”
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