By Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Coalition for United Political Parties (CUPP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to end his frequent foreign trips, advising the president to tackle local issues driving investors away from Nigeria’s struggling economy. CUPP’s National Secretary, Peter Ameh, shared this in a statement to the media in Abuja.
The group said Tinubu’s many trips since taking office have cost the nation dearly. He promises to bring in investments, but the results are slim. “Yet, as the bills pile up, a pressing question looms large: where are the investors? Where are the tangible investments promised to Nigerians?” the statement read. It called these journeys costly with little gain, despite claims they’re vital for foreign capital.
CUPP highlighted the financial toll. “Reports indicate that in his first two years, the administration has spent billions of Naira on international trips, with estimates suggesting over N36 billion allocated to foreign travel in 2024 alone,” it noted. Trips to France, India, Brazil, and the US come with high costs for flights, hotels, and large entourages.
The government insists these trips attract foreign direct investment (FDI). Minister Jumoke Oduwole claims over $50 billion in commitments. Yet, CUPP argued, “The reality on the ground tells a different story.” Nigeria saw just $29.83 million in FDI in Q2 2024—the lowest in over ten years. Meanwhile, 33 million people face food insecurity, per the World Food Programme.
The group criticised the gap between spending and results. “Nigerians, grappling with inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis, see little evidence of the prosperity these trips were meant to deliver,” the statement said.
It added that lavish travel looks bad when citizens suffer. “The optics of lavish spending on foreign travel, while citizens endure economic hardship, fuel a growing sentiment that these trips are more about prestige than progress.”
CUPP urged a change. “President Tinubu’s international trips represent a costly gamble that has yet to pay off,” it warned. Nigerians deserve answers, not just promises. “The president must shift focus from the global stage to the domestic realities that repel investors—security, infrastructure, and economic stability,” it concluded. Until then, these trips may symbolise misplaced priorities in a nation needing real solutions.