Davide Furceri, Division Chief in the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, did not mince words in his address. “Nigeria managed to do a very difficult reform that was important in delivering fiscal savings,” he acknowledged, according to TheCable. “But spending must be done wisely, which means stronger prioritization and greater efficiency in resource allocation.” Furceri emphasized that while Nigeria faces urgent spending needs, fiscal discipline remains non-negotiable—a pointed message that casts a shadow over the administration’s budgetary priorities.
The IMF’s admonition arrives against the backdrop of growing unease about the Tinubu government’s spending patterns, particularly its hefty allocations for travel. A recent breakdown of the 2025 budget by SaharaReporters revealed that President Tinubu plans to spend N6.1 billion on foreign trips and N873 million on local travel, totaling N7 billion for the year.
Vice President Kashim Shettima is also slated to burn through N1.314 billion on international travel and N417.488 million domestically, further fueling public outrage over what critics call reckless extravagance.
This isn’t the first time the presidency’s travel costs have raised eyebrows. Data from the Open Treasury Portal, reviewed by SaharaReporters, showed that in 2024 alone, the Tinubu administration shelled out N36.3 billion on international travel—N12.2 billion for “training” and N24.19 billion for “other” purposes. Local travel expenses added another N47 billion, bringing the total to a jaw-dropping N83 billion. With Nigeria grappling with limited revenue and economic hardship, such figures have sparked fierce debate about the government’s priorities.
Defending the spree, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, took to Channels TV to argue that the trips are a boon for the economy.
Other countries are chasing after these investments, but President Tinubu was able to secure them for Nigeria
He pointed to a recent visit to Brazil, where Tinubu reportedly secured $2 million in investments for the livestock sector to tackle the herders-farmers crisis. “Other countries are chasing after these investments, but President Tinubu was able to secure them for Nigeria,” Tuggar boasted. “I would rather say we are not travelling enough; we should do more. Nigeria has the money. How much does travelling cost compared to the benefits?”. But as the IMF’s warning reverberates, many Nigerians are questioning whether the benefits truly outweigh the costs—or if the administration’s globe-trotting is a luxury the nation can ill afford. With billions budgeted for 2025 and a track record of eye-watering expenditures, the Tinubu government finds itself at a crossroads, facing mounting pressure to justify its choices to a skeptical public and an watchful international community.
