The Obidient Movement has demanded a full breakdown of the money spent on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s prolonged stay in France, questioning the cost of accommodation and other expenses incurred by the presidential delegation.
The group made the demand after reports emerged that Tinubu and members of his delegation were staying at The Peninsula Paris, one of the luxury hotels in the French capital, during the President’s extended stay outside Nigeria.
In a statement issued by its Media and Communications Directorate, the movement said Nigerians deserved to know how much public money was spent on the President’s accommodation, transportation, aircraft operations, security, feeding and other logistics.
The group argued that the alleged expenditure was difficult to justify at a time when many Nigerians were facing economic hardship, insecurity and difficulties accessing basic services.
The controversy followed reports concerning the cost of accommodation at The Peninsula Paris.
Political affairs commentator Kayode Ogundamisi had claimed that a Grand Premier Suite at the hotel was listed at about €6,864 per night before taxes and additional charges.
With taxes and fees included, the figure was reportedly about €7,550, which Ogundamisi estimated at roughly N12 million per night.
He also said other rooms at the hotel were being offered for several thousand euros per night.
However, he noted that claims concerning the exact rooms occupied by members of the Nigerian delegation and security arrangements at the hotel had not been independently verified.
The Obidient Movement used the reported figures to question the overall cost of the President’s stay.
It said that if a single suite cost about N12 million per night, accommodation alone could run into hundreds of millions of naira over an extended period.
The group said other expenses connected to the trip would further increase the total.
“The estimated cost of this trip, as reflected in the headline comparison, could have funded twenty primary healthcare centres and provided 100 ambulances,” the group said.
The movement said such resources could make a significant difference in communities where residents struggle to access basic healthcare.
It particularly pointed to the difficulties faced by pregnant women, accident victims and seriously ill patients in rural areas who may have to travel long distances before receiving emergency medical attention.
The group therefore called on the Presidency to publish the actual cost of the trip instead of allowing Nigerians to rely on estimates and reports.
“We demand that Tinubu immediately provide a comprehensive breakdown of the total cost of his month-long trip to France, including accommodation, aircraft operations, security, transportation, feeding and all other expenses incurred by the presidential delegation,” it said.
Politics Nigeria had earlier reported that government expenditure records showed more than N37.6 billion was spent on presidential travels and related expenses between June 2023 and April 2026.
The figures, obtained from GovSpend, covered expenses recorded by the State House during the period.
The spending included foreign exchange transactions, logistics and costs associated with the Presidential Air Fleet.
The records showed that travel-related expenditure was particularly high in 2024, when N25.27 billion was recorded.
Another N9.19 billion was spent during the second half of 2023, while N2.71 billion was recorded in 2025.
Between January and April 2026, the records showed an additional N477.45 million.
Tinubu’s latest overseas trip has therefore become another subject of political debate.
The President left Nigeria on August 30 for Europe. The Presidency initially described the journey as a three-week annual vacation, with London announced as his first destination.
Tinubu later travelled to Paris, where he continued his stay and held meetings, including engagements with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Vincent Bolloré.
The Presidency subsequently announced that the President’s stay abroad had been extended by a few days.
The extended stay attracted criticism from opposition figures and political groups, particularly because the initial three-week period had passed without Tinubu returning to Nigeria.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s media aide, Paul Ibe, also called on the Presidency to explain the President’s prolonged stay and publish details of his activities in Paris.
Ibe questioned why Tinubu remained in France beyond the period initially announced for the vacation and demanded information on the President’s substantive engagements and their outcomes.
The Obidient Movement has now shifted attention to the financial side of the trip.
Beyond the cost of the hotel, the group wants the Presidency to account for expenses connected to the presidential aircraft, security personnel, transportation within France, meals, accommodation for other members of the delegation and other logistical arrangements.
It also asked the government to disclose the tangible benefits of the President’s stay in France.
The group said Nigerians should be told whether the trip produced new investments, agreements, diplomatic commitments or other outcomes that could justify the expenditure.
It maintained that transparency was necessary because the money used for presidential engagements came from public resources.
The movement also linked its demand to the broader economic situation in Nigeria.
It said citizens were dealing with high living costs while struggling to meet basic needs, including food, transportation, healthcare and education.
However, the Presidency has previously defended Tinubu’s foreign engagements, maintaining that official travels often involve diplomatic, economic and investment-related activities.