Tinubu’s Ministries and Agencies Spend N1.8bn on Air Travel in Three Months

 

Several ministries and agencies under the administration of President Bola Tinubu spent a total of N1.8 billion on air tickets, estacodes, and Duty Tour Allowances between July and September 2024, according to data obtained from GovSpend.

Among the ministries and agencies involved are the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Police Affairs, and others. The breakdown reveals N755.88 million spent on Duty Tour Allowances, while N1.04 billion went toward estacodes and air tickets, adding up to N1.8 billion.

The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy topped the list, spending N322 million, followed by the Ministry of Finance at N187.2 million, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) with N150 million, and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources at N108 million.

In March 2024, President Tinubu imposed a three-month ban on publicly funded trips for ministers and agency heads to cut rising expenses. However, following the end of the ban in June, the expenditure resumed, with some ministries spending millions within days.

Critics, including Debo Adeniran of the Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership, condemned the spending as "wasteful" and unnecessary during economic hardship. Others, like Okechukwu Nwaguma of the Rule of Law Accountability and Advocacy Centre, called for stricter policies on government spending.