NIGERIAN President Bola Tinubu has made at least 17 trips out of the country for official and unofficial purposes since he was sworn in as president between May 29, 2023, and April 2024, the ICIR reports as part of the series tagged, “Tinubu’s one year in office”.

The president started his official travels in June, a few weeks after he assumed office. The purpose of his trips, as said by him and or his team, was to strengthen Nigeria’s position on the global stage, foster economic growth, and address some of the country’s other challenges.

In this report, The ICIR examines the president’s foreign trips during his first year as president, highlighting the purpose of each trip and its impact on addressing the country’s major concerns.

2023 trips:

New Global Financial Pact summit in France

A few weeks after his assumption into office, President Tinubu embarked on his first international trip to France in June for the New Global Financial Pact Summit.

The 2-day summit afforded the President the opportunity of projecting, on a global stage, his advocacy for widening the fiscal space, economic justice for Africa as the world accelerates the pace of energy transition, and the urgency of addressing the pressing issues of poverty and climate change.

Private visit to London

After the summit in France, Tinubu was billed to return to Nigeria, however in a statement by his special adviser on special duties, communication and strategy, Dele Alake, the president headed to London for a “short private visit” before returning to Nigeria for the Eid-el-Kabir festivities.

63rd ECOWAS summit in Guinea-Bissau

On July 8, President Tinubu made his first official visit within the African continent since assuming office, traveling to Guinea-Bissau for the 63rd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

At the summit, he was elected as the new Chairman of ECOWAS, succeeding President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau.

The regional leaders gathered to address pressing issues affecting the sub-region, including the status of political transition in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, as well as the ECOWAS Single Currency Programme and obstacles to free movement of goods along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor. While in Bissau, Tinubu also took the opportunity to visit and commend the Nigerian troops serving under the ECOWAS Stabilisation Force, reaffirming his commitment to supporting peace and democracy in the region.

Mid-year coordination meeting in Kenya

PTinubu took a trip to Kenya on July 15, as the Chairperson of the ECOWAS to participate in the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (5thMYCM) of the African Union (AU), the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Regional Mechanisms (RMs), and the African Union Member States.

The meeting was focused on regional integration within ECOWAS, emphasising actions related to trade, free movement of persons, investment promotion, infrastructure development, peace, security, and stability.

Benin Republic’s 63rd independence anniversary

On August 1,  Tinubu made a short trip to the Benin Republic for the country’s 63rd independence anniversary ceremony.

G-20 leaders’ summit in India 

The President received a special invitation by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to attend the G-20 Leaders’ Summit after which he proceeded to New Delhi, India on September 4.

The G-20 summit provides a platform for world leaders to address critical global issues and foster international cooperation. His participation was aimed strengthening Nigeria’s ties with other countries in Asia as well as bolstering economic ties, attract foreign investment and promote Nigeria as a business-friendly country.

Meeting with UAE authorities in Abu Dhabi 

After the G-20 summit in India, President Tinubu travelled to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) where he met with the President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to resolve the issue of a visa ban on Nigeria and also discuss other bilateral relations.

The meeting yielded a positive outcome including the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travellers, resumption of flight schedules for both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines, in and out of Nigeria, among others. Not long after the report on the win permeated the media space, counter reports emerge that the ban was not lifted or was reversed. The back and forth still lingers as of March of 2024 the issue is still being reported with a presidential aid saying the ban has not been lifted.

78th United Nations General Assembly in USA

Again, in September, the president travelled to New York, United States of America to attend the 78th United Nations General Assembly. Tinubu emphasized on the importance of seeing African development as a priority, calling on world leaders and global institutions to invest in Africa, expressed concern about the military coups in Africa, demanding for solutions to perennial problems and called on the international community to strengthen its commitment to arresting the flow of arms and violent individuals into West African regions.

Saudi-Africa summit in Ridyah, South Arabia

Tinubu on November 9, left Abuja for Saudi Arabia to attend the first Saudi- Africa Summit scheduled for the following day, November 10. The summit was aimed at having discussions revolved around supporting joint action, enhancing political coordination, addressing regional security threats, and facilitating economic transformation through research and the local development of new energy solutions, all while bolstering cross-sectoral investment cooperation.

Guinea-Bissau’s 50th Independence Day anniversary