President Bola Tinubu has reportedly violated the recent directive he issued to cut down the number of individuals accompanying him on official travels. Last week, the President announced measures to limit the entourage size for local and international trips as part of the government’s cost-cutting measures. However, during his visit to Imo State on Monday, more than 50 individuals were allegedly part of his delegation, contradicting his own policy.
The directive, which aimed to streamline government operations and reduce wasteful spending, received widespread praise from Nigerians. It specifically limited the number of officials on local travels to 25 and international engagements to 20, and emphasized deploying security agents locally instead of traveling with a large security detail from Abuja.
Despite the positive reception of the policy, President Tinubu’s trip to Imo State reportedly involved more than 50 individuals, including his son, Seyi Tinubu, and several high-ranking officials. Some of the key figures on the trip included the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the President, and the Personal Physician to the President, among others.
In addition to those on the presidential aircraft, an advance party of at least 30 people reportedly traveled by commercial aircraft ahead of the President’s arrival in Owerri. This included officials from the media unit, protocol department, security details, and journalists covering the State House in Abuja.
The alleged violation of the travel policy has raised concerns about the commitment to cost-cutting measures and has sparked criticism. As of the time of reporting, there has been no response from the presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, regarding the reported violation. The incident highlights the challenges of implementing austerity measures within the government and the need for transparency in adhering to established directives.
