A few weeks after two sons of President Bola Tinubu joined his entourage on a trip to Qatar, the Federal Government has announced a temporary ban on public funded international trips for all government officials amid economic hardship in the country.

The presidential directive to suspend “public funded foreign trips” by government officials was communicated in a memo by the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation dated March 12.

The memo stated, “Considering the current economic challenges and the need for responsible fiscal management, I am writing to communicate Mr President’s directive to place a temporary ban on all public funded international trips for all Federal Government officials at all levels, for an initial period of three (3) months from April 1, 2024.’’

According to the memo, all government officials who intend to go on any public funded international trip, must seek and obtain presidential approval at least two (2) weeks prior to embarking on any such trip, which must be deemed absolutely necessary.

In December 2023, Mr Tinubu travelled to the United Arab Emirates for a climate summit with over 1,400 delegates from Nigeria. 

The United Nation released a list of participants from Nigeria who would be taking part in the event, which ranged from people in the president’s office to private, non-governmental groups in Lagos and other parts of the country. 

Criticised for wasting taxpayers’ money on an outrageous number of delegates, Mr Tinubu-led government claimed its delegates were not up to 1400 as reported by the United Nations.

Peoples Gazette also reported how the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu, flew in the presidential jet to watch a game at the Kano International Polo Tournament on Sunday.