Tinubu Extends European Vacation as Nigerians Continue to Suffer at Home

President Bola Tinubu has extended his working vacation in Europe, meaning he will remain out of the country longer than the three weeks he originally promised. The President left Abuja on August 30 for London, then moved to Paris, France, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bollore. The Presidency announced on Monday night that the vacation had been extended by a few days but gave no reason for the change.

Tinubu’s absence has reignited criticism of his travel record. Since taking office in May 2023, he has spent about 261 days outside Nigeria on 52 foreign trips, visiting at least 30 countries. Records from GovSpend show the Presidency spent N37.64 billion on presidential trips, travel logistics, and foreign exchange transactions between June 2023 and April 2026. This does not include the cost of the current European vacation. The President’s frequent trips have cost Nigerian taxpayers billions while ordinary citizens struggle to afford food, transport, and basic necessities.

The extension has also raised a constitutional question. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Presidency to state whether Tinubu transmitted a written declaration to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives transferring presidential functions to Vice President Kashim Shettima before leaving the country, as required by Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution. Atiku noted that the situation is worse because Shettima is also outside Nigeria attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York. This leaves the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, representing the President at events, while the actual President vacations in Europe.

While Tinubu tours London and Paris, Nigerians are facing a growing cost-of-living crisis, rising fuel prices, and persistent insecurity. The Academic Staff Union of Universities is threatening a nationwide strike, and the recent deaths of 37 miners in Minna have sparked national outrage. Yet the President has chosen to extend his holiday rather than return to address these pressing issues.

Tinubu promised to fix Nigeria and deliver good governance. Instead, he has spent more time abroad than in the country he was elected to lead. His frequent vacations and the billions spent on travel show a President who is out of touch with the suffering of ordinary Nigerians. The President should return home, face the challenges he was elected to solve, and explain to Nigerians why he believes his extended holiday is more important than the crisis unfolding in his own country.

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