Tinubu’s 10 Foreign Trips In 2025 Vs. Buhari’s 21 In 2016: A Tale Of Two Presidencies

JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH writes on foreign trips made by President Bola Tinubu in 2025 and the record-breaking 21 foreign trips made by the late President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016

President Bola Tinubu undertook 10 foreign trips in 2025, according to a review of official State House travel disclosures and public records, a figure that contrasts sharply with the 21 foreign trips recorded by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016, the busiest year of his eight-year tenure.

The comparison has resurfaced amid ongoing public debate over the frequency, cost, and strategic value of presidential foreign travels.

President Tinubu’s 2025 foreign engagements were spread across eight months, largely tied to multilateral summits, state visits, and investment-focused meetings.

In January, Tinubu made three trips. He travelled to Ghana to attend the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama, proceeded to the United Arab Emirates for the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week summit, and later visited Tanzania to participate in the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam.

In February, the President travelled to France on a private working visit before proceeding to Ethiopia to attend the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit in Addis Ababa.

The President returned to Europe in April for an extended working visit to France and the United Kingdom, during which he held consultations with officials and political stakeholders.

In May, Tinubu visited Italy, where he attended the inauguration Mass of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, an event that drew several world leaders.

The President embarked on a two-leg trip in late June and early July, visiting Saint Lucia on a state visit — Nigeria’s first presidential visit to the Caribbean nation — before proceeding to Brazil to attend the BRICS Summit as a partner-country invitee.

In August, Tinubu travelled to Japan for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), followed by a bilateral investment visit to Brazil, where meetings were held with business and government officials.

In September, the President undertook a 10-day working vacation split between France and the United Kingdom, described by the Presidency as a period of rest combined with strategic consultations.

Tinubu’s final foreign trip of the year came in December, when he travelled to Europe for a year-end holiday ahead of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week summit scheduled for January 2026.

Altogether, the President’s 2025 trips covered Africa, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and South America, with an emphasis on economic diplomacy, climate discussions, regional cooperation, and bilateral engagement.

In contrast, 2016 remains the year with the highest number of foreign trips recorded by any Nigerian president, with Buhari making 21 overseas trips.

That year, Buhari’s travels spanned nearly every month and were shaped by security challenges, economic recession, anti-corruption diplomacy, and multilateral obligations.

In January 2016, he visited Kenya and the Benin Republic. February saw trips to France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Kingdom. Between March and April, Buhari travelled to the United States, China, and Equatorial Guinea.

In May, he returned to the United Kingdom for the Anti-Corruption Summit. August featured trips to Kenya for the TICAD conference and Chad for a presidential inauguration. In September, Buhari attended the United Nations General Assembly in the United States.

Further trips followed in October to Germany, November to Morocco for the COP22 climate conference, and December to Senegal, The Gambia for ECOWAS mediation, and the United Kingdom for medical follow-up.

Several of Buhari’s 2016 trips were also linked to medical treatment in London, contributing to the unusually high number.

While Tinubu’s 10 foreign trips in 2025 have drawn scrutiny, analysts note that the figure is well below Buhari’s peak year and closer to historical averages for Nigerian presidents.

Supporters argue that foreign trips remain critical for investment attraction, diplomatic engagement, and regional security cooperation, while critics continue to question their cost and domestic impact.

Measured strictly by data, however, Buhari’s 21 trips in 2016 remain an outlier, driven by exceptional circumstances, while Tinubu’s 2025 travels fall significantly below that record, offering a clearer factual basis for comparison amid ongoing public discourse.