Tinubu’s 2026 Foreign Travel Budget Larger Than Budgets Of Ekiti, Ondo, Yobe — Ibom Focus Reports
Ibom Focus reports that the N6.14 billion earmarked for President Bola Tinubu’s foreign trips in the proposed 2026 Appropriation Bill has generated public debate, following revelations that the figure is higher than the total annual budgets of several Nigerian states.
An analysis of state budget proposals shows that the allocation for the president’s international travels alone exceeds the entire 2026 budgets of states such as Ekiti, Ondo and Yobe, among others.
According to figures obtained by Ibom Focus, Ekiti State proposed a total budget of N415.57 billion for 2026, Ondo State N524.41 billion, and Yobe State N515.5 billion. Each of these figures is significantly lower than the N6.14 billion set aside solely for President Tinubu’s foreign trips.
The comparison comes amid broader scrutiny of federal spending priorities, especially after it emerged that the president’s total travel budget for 2026 stands at N7.01 billion. This includes N873.88 million allocated for local travel in addition to the foreign travel provision.
A breakdown of proposed state budgets for 2026 highlights sharp disparities across the federation. Lagos State tops the list with a proposed budget of N4.24 trillion, followed by Rivers State at N1.85 trillion, Delta State at N1.73 trillion, Ogun State at N1.67 trillion, and Enugu State at N1.62 trillion. Akwa Ibom is projected at N1.58 trillion, Kano at N1.48 trillion, Imo at N1.44 trillion, and Niger at N1.07 trillion.
Other states include Abia and Bayelsa with N1.02 trillion each, Kaduna at N985.9 billion, Cross River at N961.62 billion, Edo at N939.85 billion, Jigawa at N901.84 billion, Katsina at N897.87 billion, Oyo at N892 billion, and Borno at N890.33 billion. Ebonyi proposed N884.87 billion, Bauchi N877.05 billion, Zamfara N861.3 billion, Kogi N820.49 billion, Plateau N817.51 billion, and Anambra N766.37 billion.
Further down the list are Sokoto with N758.7 billion, Osun N723.45 billion, Benue N695.01 billion, Taraba N653.5 billion, Kwara N644 billion, Kebbi N642.93 billion, Gombe N617.95 billion, Adamawa N583.3 billion, Nasarawa N545.18 billion, Ondo N524.41 billion, Yobe N515.5 billion, and Ekiti with N415.57 billion.
Critics argue that the comparison underscores growing concerns over government spending at a time when many states are struggling with limited resources, infrastructure deficits, and rising social and economic needs.
The 2026 Appropriation Bill is currently before the National Assembly, where lawmakers are expected to closely scrutinise allocations to ministries, departments, agencies, and the presidency.
