Why Nigerians should not downplay Tinubu’s foreign trips
08 February 2025 |
5:02 am
Again, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, jetted out of the country to Paris on a private visit en route Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga
Again, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, jetted out of the country to Paris on a private visit en route Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had in a statement, explained that President Tinubu will join African leaders at the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU Heads of State, scheduled from Wednesday, February 12 to Sunday 16, 2025.
The trip has generated diverse reactions across the country, given the frequency of such trips since the administration assumed office. President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima have in their approximately 18 months in office undertaken over 41 trips abroad, visiting 26 countries. Specifically, President Tinubu has made 29 trips to 16 countries, while Vice President Shettima has made 12 trips to 10 countries.
They have collectively spent a total of 180 days abroad, with Tinubu logging 124 days and Shettima 56 days. So far, Tinubu’s notable destinations include London, New York, U.S.; Paris, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, New Delhi, Berlin and Germany.
Impressions gleaned from his close aides suggest that the frequent trips to abroad by Tinubu and Shettima are primarily to foster international relations and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to enhance Nigeria’s global standing.
During his presidential campaigns in 2023, Tinubu had promised renewed hope to Nigerians, vowing to change the nation’s governance narrative. One of the things he promised was rebooting and resetting Nigeria’s economy on the global stage as the largest in Africa.
While the Tinubu Presidency says it is working to bring about reforms through these international engagements, critics argue that such extensive travels occur while pressing domestic issues remain unaddressed. Many have also labeled Tinubu as a “globetrotting President”, saying he is more focused on foreign engagements than on economic reforms and local governance.
However, others argue that these engagements are necessary for establishing Nigeria’s credibility on the global stage. And presidential aides always argue that the trips abroad are aimed at re-establishing Nigeria as a key economic player in Africa and strengthening diplomatic ties.
“These travels facilitate economic diplomacy, aiming to attract foreign investments and enhance trade partnerships, particularly with traditional allies like the U.S., and emerging powers such as China. By engaging with these nations, Nigeria seeks to bolster its influence on global issues, including security and economic development, while addressing domestic challenges.
“These trips help Nigeria re-establish its credibility and leadership in international forums, reinforcing its status as a significant player in global diplomacy despite past setbacks,” a presidential aide said.
Presidency watchers say the activities of the president and the vice president on the international scene cannot be downplayed, pointing at Shettima’s recent engagements at the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
The vice president, who represented Nigeria at the yearly global economic summit, presented the nation’s investment opportunities to a global audience, where he advocated African economic integration, and held strategic meetings with world leaders and international organisations.
During his time in Davos, Shettima participated in forums that drew attention to the importance of driving investment into Africa’s frontier markets. At a forum titled, ‘Roadmap to Co-create Investment Opportunities for Africa’s Frontier Markets’, organised by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the WEF, the vice president reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to attract capital for sustainable growth.
In another forum, he pledged Nigeria’s commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), just as he reaffirmed the nation’s resolve to leverage digital trade as a tool for economic transformation, projecting Africa’s potential to achieve a $29 trillion economy by 2050.
In bilateral meetings with global leaders, including the President of Botswana, Duma Boko, and President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, Shettima discussed strengthening intra-African relations and fostering partnerships to promote trade and development.
He also engaged in talks with the Director-General of World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the President of the WEF, Børge Brende, on collaborative efforts to address Africa’s challenges, including energy security, food crises and ecological threats.
On Nigeria’s reform agenda under President Tinubu, Shettima highlighted ongoing measures such as subsidy removal, exchange rate alignment and tax reforms, noting that the country is now on a path to sustained economic growth.
Other highlights of his participation include his role as a panelist in the ‘Financial Times Global Risks 2025’ dialogue, where he stressed the importance of multilateral collaboration to address global crises. Shettima’s engagements at the 2025 WEF yielded significant outcomes, as it encouraged global investors to explore opportunities in the country and across Africa.
Nigeria’s voice was also heard clearly, reminding the world that the nation still holds the ace when it comes to the big brother’s role in Africa. Similarly, President Tinubu’s recent engagement in Abu Dhabi during the 2025 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), which focused on economic collaboration, sustainable development, and governance improvements has several significant benefits for Nigeria.
Tinubu’s discussions with UAE leaders, including Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, aim to strengthen economic ties, including exploring investment opportunities in sectors such as energy, agriculture, and technology, which could attract substantial foreign investment to Nigeria.
The summit provided a platform for Tinubu to emphasise Nigeria’s commitment to sustainability. By learning from the UAE’s successful strategies in renewable energy and infrastructure development, Nigeria can diversify its economy away from oil dependence and enhance its resilience.
President Tinubu also recently participated in the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from January 27 to 28, 2025. This summit aimed to address energy access across Africa, with a target of providing electricity to 300 million people by 2030.
During the summit, Tinubu engaged with various African leaders, including Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, and other heads of state from countries such as Lesotho, Djibouti, and Madagascar. The summit was organised by the Tanzanian government in collaboration with the African Union, the African Development Bank Group, and the World Bank Group124.
Tinubu used the opportunity to emphasise Nigeria’s commitment to achieving universal energy access and highlighted ongoing clean energy initiatives within the country. He announced that Nigeria’s National Energy Compact would outline specific policy measures to enhance energy access and attract private sector investments.
The summit concluded with the endorsement of the Dar es Salaam Declaration, which commits participating nations to work collectively towards improving electricity access for their citizens over the next five years.
Supporters of the administration hold the view that criticising President Tinubu’s trips abroad amounts to “much ado about nothing”, especially as the government is poised to invade the global business platforms with robust investments opportunities, positioning the nation as a proactive participant in Africa and global affairs.
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