The Alarming Rise of Governors’ Travel Expenditure in Nigeria
In the first six months of 2025, 29 state governors in Nigeria spent a staggering N79.97 billion on domestic and international travels. This figure represents a 14.72% increase from the N69.71 billion spent during the same period in 2024. The surge in travel expenditure has sparked public outrage, particularly given the country’s economic challenges and mounting debts .
Breakdown of Travel Expenditures:
– Top Spenders:
Lagos: N6.23 billion in Q1
Osun:N6.21 billion
Kano: N5.58 billion
Geopolitical Distribution:
South-West: N19.92 billion (24.9% of total)
North-West: N17.58 billion
North-East: N13.92 billion
Foreign Investment Inflows:
Only six states attracted foreign capital inflows in the first quarter of 2025, with:
Federal Capital Territory:$3.05 billion
Lagos: $2.56 billion
Kano: $120,000
Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, and Ekiti:also among the six states
President Bola Tinubu has urged governors to redirect spending towards projects that directly impact rural communities, emphasizing the need to .
Embrace Mechanization in Agriculture
Improve School Enrollment through Feeding
– Muda Yusuf suggests governors should spread development to other locations within the state, not just concentrating on state capitals.
– Pro Segun Ajibola laments that state assemblies have abandoned their oversight duties, leaving no transparency and accountability.
– Professor Jonathan Aremu states that investment doesn’t go to places where there are crises.