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In a review of government expenditures, it has been revealed that the Federal Government allocated approximately N701 million to support the foreign trips of First Lady Remi Tinubu over the past three months. This funding covers travel to five countries, according to recent reports by Saturday PUNCH.
The significant expenditure comes on the heels of a 2023 budget allocation of N1.5 billion for vehicle procurement designated for the Office of the First Lady, as outlined in the N2.1 trillion supplementary budget approved by the National Assembly. The broader vehicle budget includes N2.9 billion for sport utility vehicles to be used within the Presidential Villa and an equivalent amount aimed at replacing operational vehicles for the Presidency.
Despite assertions from former Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume that the N1.5 billion was meant for the Presidency rather than the First Lady's office, an analysis by GovSpend—a civic tech platform that monitors federal spending—provided insights indicating that N700,707,532 was expended solely for the First Lady’s international trips.
Details of the spending reveal multiple transactions for foreign exchange needed for her travel:
- On November 17, 2023, N77,659,888 was issued for the First Lady's trip to the United States.
- A payment of N149,794,284 was made on February 24, 2024, for her journey to France, which took place on January 4, 2024.
- On March 15, 2024, the government disbursed N202,386,198 for her trip to Mozambique that month, alongside N144,571,785 allocated for travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 9, 2024.
- Additionally, N126,295,377 was spent for her visit to London during the same period.
Furthermore, the investigation indicates that the government also invested a total of N314,231,472 in six initiatives linked to the First Lady within four months. This substantial outlay has sparked discussions on government spending priorities and transparency regarding the First Lady’s office.