Nigerian Governors spent N80bn on travel expenses in six months
The current findings of Governors in Nigeria expending a whopping approximate sum of N80 billion on foreign and local trips have raised concerns on the financial shrewdness of leaders in the country, as many have described the report as a testament to gross profligacy and fiscal rascality in governance.
The findings show a total sum of N79.97bn expended on domestic and international travels between January and June 2025 by at least 29 State Governors.
One would have expected that with the constantly rising national debts and frequent borrowings, coupled with the harsh economic conditions citizens grapple with, leaders would be more prudent in utilizing the scarce resources for communal benefit, while curtailing unnecessary journeys and cutting down on aides and entourage while embarking on long-distance trips.
An analysis of the fiscal performance of each State, utilising data from the 2025 Q1 to Q2 budget performance reports, shows a 14.72 percent increase on travel expenses, compared to the N69.71bn spent by Nigerian Governors within the same period in the 2024 fiscal year.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics in its Capital Importation report for Q1, 2025, only Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Kano, and Ekiti states were able to attract capital importation from foreign investors in the first quarter.
The report also revealed that only five States and the Federal Capital Territory recorded foreign capital inflows during the quarter under review. FCT, attracting $3.05bn emerged as the top destination, accounting for 54.11 percent of the total imported capital.
Lagos State followed closely with $2.56bn (45.44 per cent), while Ogun State received $7.95m (0.14 per cent). Others were Oyo ($7.81m), Kaduna ($4.06m), and Kano ($120,000).
Despite the humongous expenditure on foreign trips, 31 State Governors were unable to attract any form of capital importation during the period under review, warranting a cost-benefit evaluation of such trips.
On travel expenses, Lagos State recorded the highest expenditure, with N6.23bn spent in the first quarter of 2025, followed closely by Osun State (N6.21bn), and Kano State (N5.58bn); bringing Kano to the top of the list in the North.
Also ranking among the top spenders were Taraba State (N5.22bn), Bayelsa (N3.78bn), Ekiti (N3.76bn), Borno (N3.68bn), Cross River (N3.68bn), Yobe (N3.70bn) and Edo (N3.51bn).
For North-eastern States, Adamawa spent N2.24bn, while Bauchi recorded N3.66bn. Others include Gombe (N1.20bn), Yobe (N3.70bn), and Borno N3.68bn.
North-Central States such as Niger, Nasarawa and Benue expended N2.63bn, N2.24bn and N1.3bn in travel costs respectively, with Benue’s figure reflecting only Q1 expenditure. Kogi and Kwara recorded N1.75bn and N1.2bn, respectively.
In the South-East, Abia spent N1.03bn, Ebonyi (N1.45bn), and Imo (N928.34m). Enugu and Anambra states had not published their expenditure reports for the year at the time of this report.
Bayelsa led South-South region with N3.78bn, followed by Cross River (N3.68bn) and Edo (N3.51bn). Delta State reported N884.81m in Q1 alone, while Akwa Ibom and Rivers had not disclosed their financial records for the period under review.
In the North-West, Kebbi incurred N1.53bn, Sokoto (N2.59bn) Zamfara (N2.77bn), Jigawa (N1.26bn), Kaduna (N1.86bn), Kano (N5.58bn), and Katsina (N548.24m in the first quarter), as travel related costs.
Osun topped South-western States with N6.21bn, followed by Ekiti (N3.76bn). Ondo spent N1.83bn, Oyo (N1.89bn), and Lagos (N6.23bn in Q1) while Ogun State is yet to publish its reports.
A cursory look at the geopolitical analysis of the subject reveals the following: South-West (N19.92bn, 24.9 percent), North-West (N17.58bn, 22 per cent), North-East (N13.92bn, 17.4 per cent) South-South (N11.81bn, 14.8), North-Central (N10.79bn, 13.5 per cent) and South-East (N5.94bn, 7.4 percent).
Considering that some States in the various geopolitical zones are yet to publish their reports while some have only published reports for the first quarter, the current geopolitical figures does not represent the total spendings of some regions and therefore not yet an accurate statistical ranking of the regions in terms of travel expenses.
Many Nigerians are concerned about the development, calling on State Governors to be more frugal in expending the common patrimony of their respective States.
