Tinubu’s Turkiye ‘missed step’ sparks contemporary criticisms over ‘frequent’ overseas journeys

A professor of political science at Nasarawa State College, Jideofor Adibe, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s overseas travels, saying the journeys have taken a brand new dimension in recent times.

Adibe spoke on a tv programme on Tuesday, whereas reacting to the president’s ongoing three-day state go to to Türkiye.

“I believe it’s been overdone. Whereas I recognise the position of non-public diplomacy, it mustn’t prolong to changing into a globetrotter,” Adibe stated.

He argued that Nigeria’s diplomatic structure already offers sufficient mechanisms for worldwide engagement, together with the Ministry of Overseas Affairs and missions in Nigerian embassies.

“There is no such thing as a purpose why a president ought to continually be on the transfer. You’ve gotten a Minister of Overseas Affairs and commerce missions in numerous embassies. Many engagements may even be dealt with via video conferencing,” he stated.

Adibe famous that though overseas journey by Nigerian presidents didn’t start with Tinubu, the size had elevated considerably.

“It began with Obasanjo, Buhari additionally did it, but it surely has been taken to a different stage,” he stated.

President Bola Tinubu in Türkiye throughout his state go to on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Picture: State Home.

Adibie questioned the effectiveness of frequent journeys in attracting overseas funding, arguing that capital is pushed extra by home situations than bodily presence.

“Capital smells alternative. You do not want to journey to woo capital. Even in war-torn areas, capital strikes in when alternatives exist.

“If the President, for instance, had simply travelled to Turkey as one of many few travels, it might not have generated issues. However he’s continually on the transfer. So no matter strategic significance this is likely to be is diluted by the truth that he’s a frequent traveller,” Adibe stated.

Adibe stated that world leaders not often journey overseas apart from crucial engagements, stressing {that a} president have to be visibly rooted at house.

“Overseas coverage flows from home coverage. A pacesetter should first present that he’s comfy being in his personal nation,” he stated.

Turkiye Go to, Overseas Travels

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan trade fingers with Minister of Strong Minerals Dele Alake throughout President Bola Tinubu’s state go to in Türkiye on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Picture: State Home.

President Tinubu is in Türkiye on an official state go to that started on Monday, January 26, 2026.

Since taking workplace in Could 2023, President Tinubu has made greater than 10 overseas journeys geared toward strengthening diplomatic ties and attracting overseas funding.

Whereas the federal government says these journeys are essential to reposition Nigeria globally, critics argue that the journeys, accompanied by an entourage, are extreme given the nation’s present {economic} challenges.

Opposition like Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar have faulted the journeys, citing the dearth of rapid reduction for inflation and home insecurity.

A few of Tinubu’s key overseas visits embrace China, Brazil, India, France, the UK, Qatar, and, most lately, the United Arab Emirates.

The president has additionally visited nations like South Africa, Tanzania, and Saint Lucia and attended main occasions, together with an African vitality summit and the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV on the Vatican.

The president is accompanied by senior authorities officers, together with the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Minister of Defence, Common Christopher Musa; Minister of Strong Minerals, Dele Alake; and the Lawyer Common of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.

On Tuesday, he was formally obtained by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the Presidential Palace in Ankara, with a guard of honour and the enjoying of each nationwide anthems.

Throughout the reception parade, the president briefly stumbled whereas approaching the guard of honour however was rapidly assisted by safety aides and continued the ceremony.

Presidential aides later confirmed that the incident was a gentle misstep and that the president was in good well being.

The go to is geared toward strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and Türkiye, with discussions centered on finance, funding, commerce, safety cooperation, and the signing of Memoranda of Understanding in sectors together with vitality, training, analysis, and social welfare.

In the meantime, Paul Ibe, media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Presidency over what he described as a rising sample of failing to reveal the return dates of President Bola Tinubu’s overseas journeys.

President Tinubu is predicted to depart Abuja on Monday, January 26, 2026, for a state go to to the Republic of Turkey, which the Presidency described as a multi-day diplomatic engagement.

In response to an announcement issued by the Presidential Spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, the go to is geared toward strengthening the prevailing cordial relations between the 2 nations and exploring additional areas of cooperation in safety, training, social growth, innovation, and aviation.

He added that in Tinubu’s go to, each nations will have interaction in strategic political and diplomatic discussions on shared values in finance, communication, commerce and funding.

The assertion added that the agenda will embrace conferences between high-ranking officers of each nations and the signing of memoranda of understanding in scientific analysis, vitality, technical cooperation, media and communications, army cooperation and protocol, amongst others.

Nevertheless, the Presidency didn’t state when he would return, noting solely that Tinubu could be again “on the conclusion of the go to.”

Reacting in a publish on his X (previously Twitter) deal with on Monday, Ibe questioned the dearth of transparency across the President’s journey schedule, suggesting that the omission of a return date had change into a recurring development.

“What is that this new development of not giving a date of the return of the President at any time when he’s travelling out?” Ibe requested.

He additional made a sarcastic comment, implying that the open-ended nature of such journeys may enable for unscheduled stopovers, saying it is likely to be to find out “if a couple of days in France to lounge and drink Pina Colada with the French squad might be squeezed in.”