This was contained in a statement signed and released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga.
Data gathered by The ICIR in April indicated that since his inauguration on May 29, 2023, the president had embarked on at least 38 international trips, frequently described as official or private, with France being the most frequently visited.
According to the data, provided by GovSpend, a government spending tracker managed by BudgIT, the Presidency spent over N23 billion in 2024 to purchase foreign currencies for international trips of top government functionaries, including Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and the president’s wife, Oluremi Tinubu.
The amount reflects a significant rise of 23 per cent from the N18.63 billion recorded in 2023 for the same purpose.
In 2023, Tinubu travelled abroad 13 times, followed by 19 trips in 2024, and at least nine in 2025.
In January 2025, the president attended the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which focused on energy cooperation.
By May, he was in Rome, Italy, for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, a largely ceremonial visit.
Between June and July, he embarked on a series of trips — first to Saint Lucia for a state visit aimed at strengthening ties with Caribbean nations, and then to Brazil to boost cooperation in trade and agriculture.
In August, the president was in the UAE, likely Dubai, en route to Japan.
Later that month, he participated in the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development in Yokohama, Japan, to deepen investment and bilateral relations. He then returned to Brazil for a second state visit focused on advancing agriculture and aviation agreements.
The ICIR reported in August that there was a growing concern over Tinubu’s health, with credible sources confirming to The ICIR that preparations were underway by his medical team to fly him abroad for urgent medical attention. However, the Presidency dismissed these concerns, describing them as ‘rumours’.
According to information gathered by The ICIR, the President was bedridden for several days, resulting in his absence from key state functions.
The latest vacation did not indicate that Tinubu transmitted a formal letter to the National Assembly, as mandated by Section 145(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), to empower Vice President Kashim Shettima to act in his absence. Both chambers of the Assembly are presently in recess.
Some former Nigerian presidents, including the late Muhammadu Buhari, had ignored this law and proceeded on leave without transferring power to their deputy.
However, critics contend that although the trips highlight Nigeria’s visibility on the global stage, they have produced little in terms of concrete economic relief for citizens grappling with soaring inflation, insecurity, and worsening living conditions.
You can stay updated on Tinubu’s journeys outside Nigeria via The ICIR Tinubu travel tracker.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.