A recent report reveals that the Federal Government of Nigeria spent approximately ₦701 million to fund foreign trips for the First Lady, Remi Tinubu, over a span of three months.
The trips, which included visits to five countries, were part of a larger ₦1.5 billion budget for the Office of the First Lady, allocated as part of the ₦2.1 trillion supplementary budget for 2023 approved by the National Assembly.
Former Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume previously clarified that the ₦1.5 billion allocated for vehicles was for the Presidency, not exclusively for the First Lady’s office.
However, a report by *Punch* using the civic tech platform GovSpend, which tracks Federal Government expenditures, disclosed detailed payments for foreign exchange related to the First Lady’s trips.
– ₦77.6 million for her trip to the United States in November 2023.
– ₦149.7 million for her January 2024 trip to France.
– ₦202.4 million for a visit to Mozambique in March 2024.
– ₦144.6 million for a trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February 2024.
– ₦126.3 million for a trip to London.
Additionally, ₦314.2 million was spent on six of the First Lady’s programs within four months, with significant payments for event decorations and multimedia services for programs aimed at women, youth, and children.
This brings the total expenditure on the First Lady’s trips and programs to over ₦1 billion over seven months.