Opposition parties and civil society voices are raising concerns over the repeated foreign travels of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, describing them as extravagant, tone-deaf, and damaging to governance despite the deepening economic challenges in Nigeria.
The latest backlash comes as President Tinubu embarked on a two-week “working leave” in France on Wednesday.
Recall that barely 24 hours later, Vice President Shettima jetted out to Senegal to attend the country’s Independence Day celebration—leaving both top executives out of the country simultaneously.
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have all expressed dismay, warning that the travel patterns suggest a troubling disconnect from the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians.
CUPP’s National Secretary, Peter Ahmeh, in an interview with The PUNCH, slammed what he called the duo’s “administrative recklessness.” According to him, their overlapping absences amount to a dereliction of duty that could paralyze decision-making across critical sectors.
“When one is not in town, the other should be,” Ahmeh argued. “But both away at the same time? That’s a leadership vacuum that affects security coordination, economic management, and emergency responses.”
He added, “There’s no way we can meet our national development goals when our leaders treat the presidency like a passport. Nigerians deserve a president focused on governance, not someone who’s turning France into a second home.”
While the presidency has consistently described Tinubu’s trips as “working visits,” critics point out that tangible outcomes remain unclear, especially as inflation, unemployment, and the naira’s depreciation continue to bite.
