From Punch
Billions of naira of taxpayers’ money have been expended on the foreign trips of President Goodluck Jonathan despite his January promise to cut down on such trips.
This newspaper’s findings show that the President and his entourage have spent not less than N3.354bn on foreign trips since 2010.
Our correspondent learnt that in the
first 11 months of 2012, the President had travelled out of the country
at least 20 times, including his trip to Sierra Leone in October and the
D8 Summit he attended in Pakistan in November.
In September alone, Jonathan travelled
out of the country four times. He travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for
a two-day visit on September 1 for the burial of late Prime Minister
Meles Zenawi.
Nine days later, he went to Malawi and
Botswana in a cumulative three-day visit for enhancement of bilateral
relationships. The President ended the month of September with another
trip to New York, United States for the United Nations General Assembly
From February, 2010 when he became the
Acting President to December 2010, Jonathan spent N970.891m
on foreign travels.
Although the 2011 budget was silent on
the expenses for the President foreign travels, investigations showed
that about N1.7bn was spent on foreign trips.
According to the 2011 budget, N1.145bn was budgeted for Vice-President Namadi Sambo’s foreign trips.
In 2012, N N684.74m was budgeted for Jonathan’s foreign travels and he had travelled out of the country 19 times.
Although the 2013 budget recently
submitted to the National Assembly by Jonathan suggested that N2.6bn
would be spent on his foreign trips next year, investigations have shown
that much more than the quoted figure will be spent and is being spent
judging by the expenses the country incurs during such trips.
The expenses incur include and are not
limited to airfares for members of the President’s delegation who will
travel on commercial flights, cost of procuring travel visas for them,
estacodes for members of the delegation, fuelling of the presidential
jets as well as other logistics.
Only the President and his very top aides fly on the presidential jets.
Industry source told one of our
correspondents that airfare to and fro any European countries in the
Economy category could vary from N110,000 to N150,000 per person
depending on the timing and the destinations.
She added that for the Business class,
the fare ranged from N600, 000 to N700,000 per person depending on the
category of the Business Class (there are three categories), the timing
and destination.
Prevailing exchange rate at the time of purchase is also said to be a factor.
The source added that corporate purchase like Aso Rock would do, could also attract discounts.
The President was said to have jetted
out to different destinations in Africa, Europe, Asia, North America and
South America during his Presidency.
Jonathan, in 2011 alone, visited several
countries including United States, France, Uganda, Australia, Ghana,
Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Ethiopia among others.
The size of his entourage varies depending on the country he is visiting and the purpose of such visit.
While top aides and officials of the
Presidential Villa are regular faces on such trips, ministries relevant
to the purpose of his overseas trips also send delegations.
Lately, the President had also resolved
to always go on foreign trips with two members of the National Assembly
(one from each chamber) who serve on the committee related to his
purpose of visit.
State governors are also on the entourage.
For example, an online news site, Saharareporters,
had in June reported that Jonathan travelled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
for the United Nations’ Earth Summit with 116 government officials.
Although the Presidency faulted the number, it did not offer the exact number despite a request made by the news site.
The breakdown of the delegation was
given as 25 personal aides, 18 aides of Mrs. Patience Jonathan, two
members of the National Assembly, five ministers, two state governors,
and 63 officials from the Ministries of Environment, Foreign Affairs,
National Planning and Petroleum Resources.
When the President visited Brussels for
the World Customs Conference in the same month, the same medium reported
that he went with about 57 people, including 26 aides, three ministers,
eight members of the National Assembly, and 20 other government
officials.
The same month, Patience Jonathan was in
Maryland, United States, to attend a UNESCO First Lady’s “Youth
Infusion” Summit and was reportedly accompanied by 36 people: 18 aides,
four wives of state governors, and 14 friends and associates.
Investigation showed that in September
2012, Jonathan jetted out of the country four times. He visited
Ethiopia Malawi, Botswana and New York, United States for the UN
General Assembly.
He had reportedly visited Trinidad and Tobago earlier with a 70-member delegation.
Jonathan had said in a national
broadcast in January, “I have directed that overseas travels by all
political office-holders, including the President, should be reduced to
the barest minimum. The size of delegations on foreign trips will also
be drastically reduced; only trips that are absolutely necessary will be
approved.”
Linda abii you've travelled too naa...can such money be spent on trips like that, not to talk of African countries ooo.
ReplyDeletei beleive the hotels and the food will be blam for that...eh!!! Niaja
Couldn't care less if he sprouts wings n flies himself,d orangutang of Ota did worse if memory serves me right.On a more serios note if yearly budget is not reviewed upwards significantly then we've failed before we've even started,what the fuck is Okonjo doing?
Deleteis he d supervisor of the world?". Dino melaye
Delete
ReplyDeleteSo it is also a problem if the president travels 20 times in a year?are those trips not part of he's functions as a president ?wat aer we talking about.i dnt like d style of govt of d man GEJ it would be most embarrasing to include dis as part of he's wrong doings.As a private person i have travelled out of the country over 10 times this year wit my money not to talk of a president.lets not make fun of our country
The problem is not the amount of times he traveled!!! The issue here, that you don't seem to get, is the taxpayers money that is being wasted on such trips!
DeleteMumu..how much have u spent in ur 10 trips outta da country..the punk President spent Billions to travel.
DeleteTell it to them my brother. If na dem dey dere its d same thing that would happen. Our Presido went for the countries good, that's his job.
DeleteIf u want to criticise do so objectively & without bias. The most important question is: are those travels important? Frm wht we hv read, d visits are important. My concern is on the number of delegates that go with him on such trvl; it cud b lower.
DeleteObj did worse than this & wasted tax payers' money recklessly without any protest from certain quarters. Instead of criticing unnecessarily learn to appreciate the spectacular changes & positive impact being made by GEJ.
Jona jst dey groove dey go!!!he's makin up for d years lost witout shoes....he needs a very hot knock on his head to correct his senses..Mz FrancesOg
ReplyDeleteLWKMD @hot knock on his bald head***Tongue out****
DeleteHahahaha!@make up for years without shoes!abi now!
DeleteNa dia time,if him like make him travel go hell greet lucifer come back!!Nigeria go survive!
Jonathan is the worst president Nigeria has ever got. God will definitely visit him soon. so many Nigerians thought he would be different but he turned out to be the major THIEF. very disappointing.
ReplyDeleteJONATHAN IS A FAILURE!
Thankfully i was never one of those who thought he'd be different cos i know anything that comes thru d orangutang's definetely doomed.
Delete@Chief priest. Enough with the orangutang thing. That's someone's father that you're taking about. I'm sure you won't like someone to call your father an orangutang.
Delete@7.52am If my father behaves like Obj i'd call him much worse,truth be told orangutangs'll be pissed off at the comparison.
Delete@anon7:52am,you'd better shut your mouth if u've nothing better to say.Obj someone's father,someone's father-in-law...did that stop him from fucking his son's wife?Anyway i'm happy he's getting disgraced left,right n centre.1st it was Senegal,now it's Ghana n Ecowas.Soon the biggest disgrace awaits u here at home,bloody thief,murderer,ritualist,liar...obj the bastard!
DeleteA whooping 3.3bn on trips,and what was our gain from all the trips? To some extent I don't fault d Presidents foreign trips,but must he travel with a whole village. Now Sanusi av u seen where we need downsizing.
ReplyDelete~BONARIO~says so via NOKIA3310
Allow the guy to flex. All u bloody ass journalists n bloggers. Where una dey when Hausas n Yorubas dey chop us. Now na none of dem dey n una dey read budget. Equity is justice n the truth is bitter. FLEX uncle jona. I dey ur side. Nothing do we!
ReplyDeleteFuck off
DeleteFool for Life!
DeleteU call urself doctor,wich skul did u attend sef?dnt dey pay him salary as president,doesn't he do back yard runs 4 more money,if he liks he shuld travel a million tyms bt he shuld go wit 4 or 5 pple,wen he travels wit a whole village lik Bonario says,d expense is more.dere's no 1 dat'll tell me dat he'll reach dat high nd nt want 2 eat money bt @ least do it in a way dats more hidden,he's nt even eatin d money in dis case,jst wastin it,mtcheeewww,wit dat him cap wey him dey wear.c am,Timaya broda.
DeleteWith people like you, this country is in trouble. Or didn't you just read this post?
DeleteOh God,plsssss save my country
ReplyDeletefalling in love with punch now...second revelation in two weeks I think.an animal jungle we call a country.
ReplyDeletewastefulness that doesnt have a second!How we managed to get to this point is what beats me...
(ITT) International thief thief..
ReplyDeleteNo problem. We are eagerly awaiting 2015. Continue oh.
ReplyDeleteWhy wait until 2015??? Impeach this thief!!!
Deleted reasons behind his trips can be understood buh hey!, y all d handbags? Mr. Jonah! U nid 2 spend wisely o cos smday u'l be outta dere nd al dis allowances WILL b göne!
ReplyDeleteLinda d way u call him jonathan without putting "president" is so disrespectful, for crying out loud his d president of ur country, no mata wat, oda countries dnt address thr president in dat manner!
ReplyDeleteU̶̲̥̅̊ are Ά̲̣̥n Idiot fφя̩̥̊ saying D̶̲̥̅̊α†.....omo ale....bastard! And S̲̅ơ̴̴̴̴̴͡? W̶̲̥̅̊н̣̣̣̝̇̇̇@̤̥̣̈̊̇†̥̣̣̣̇̇̇ respect does Ħ̀ε̅ deserve D̶̲̥̅̊α† Чя stinking mouth Ãήϑ daft brain α̲̅я̩̥̊ε̲̣̣̣̥ clamouring fφя̩̥̊? President m̶̲̥̅̊y̶̲̥̅̊ Ass! Mscheeeew!
DeleteDoes Чя idiotic fellow U̶̲̥̅̊'r refering as Чя president Hλ√ƺ respect fφя̩̥̊ ds country wt dos huge-meaningless wasteful spendns him Ãήϑ all oda thieves ℓi̶̲̥̅ke him ȋ̝̊̅π T̶̲̥̅ђe̶̲̥̅̊ corridor ☀̤̣̈̇f power α̲̅я̩̥̊ε̲̣̣̣̥ spreeing all abt!
Useless-meaningless bastards.....waste ☀̤̣̈̇f space! Abeg G̶̲̥̅Ơ̴̴̴̴͡ Ãήϑ kiss cobra jooor! Idiot! Mcsheeeeew!!!!!
Other countries don't address their president in that matter because their president threats them like human beings and don't still their money to live a lavish life!
DeleteSome people on this blog are so frustrated
Deletethey way day vent out and abuse others for sharing their opinion is incomprehensible.
Respect ko, respect ni! Idiat!!!!!!
DeleteNna ehh,fuk this people,they should liv jonathan alone...if he haz an important meetin,let him attend...his the president....fuk dis ignorant punch people...not as if hiz resting or wat....tufia...
ReplyDeleteIs CPC now using linda as a media agent? Smh
ReplyDeleteThis government is not government for the people but government for the thieves. A country where majority of her youths are jobless, her ladies turn to prostitute & president Jonathan is spending billions of taxpayer money on useless, meaningless trip. God will judge them all
ReplyDeleteRefrain frm bias criticism. Ur broda who ws dia did worse tinz & u praised & almost gave him a 3rd tym. Are so daft dat u call such trips meaningless?
DeleteStop dis ur hating comments on GEJ...
It's high time Jonathan stepped down...this administration of his is frivolous and annoyingly greedy!!!www.kemifilani.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThe amount of tears that i've shed while reading this article is unbelievable. Who is the government? It is not Goodluck, the Senate or the house of reps, it is you and I. Over 180 million Nigerians make up our government and i'm sure we will all sit and watch a few fools who rigged their way into power to run down our beloved country. We should take a stand and say no to all this rubbish.
ReplyDeleteAfterall, the French Revolution was started by 1 man because of an increase in the price of bread. The Social Media should use its power to start a revolution if it really has the interest of the people at heart. It is obvious The Government understands the impact it can make to ensure Nigeria is a great country not just for us but for our unborn children as well.
#OccupyNigeria should commence again.
In d 1980s d then SA apartheid president P.W Botha gave a speech wich he clearly said 'black africans can't rule' from wat i've seen in ngr I agree wit him
ReplyDeleteAll i can say is Jona... people are suffering and you spend more than N3billion just for traveling. Issoraiit...#Godiswatchingyou! jega
ReplyDeletePress Is it N3.345bn from 2010 to date or only in 2012.
ReplyDeleteGod is watching all of us. Dazzling
The caption is very mischievous & misleading. That's d handiwork of professional liars & die-hard critics who celebrated Obj for looting our commonwealth and putting us in dis mess.
DeleteCase of monkey dey work Baboon dey chop.
ReplyDeleteOne word..vanity upon vanity is VANITY..God pls fight for us as u did in d case of Abacha..linda post am oh
ReplyDeleteWe aint seen nothing yet.Until we decide to take our destiny into our hands(REVOLUTION),things will continue to get worse.Can that ever happen? 200million MUMU! #CorrectMeIfAmWrong
ReplyDeleteWell said frnd.
DeleteSome of these trips are important, but is the entourage accompanied necessary? Money wasting indeed!
ReplyDelete......Okay bcos this is Nigeria, Head of State wl be spending D countries money anyhow right? Making our financial status be in a state of jeopardy....wel done Mr. President and your Vice....funny enough he(VP)wants more billions for his house...
ReplyDeleteno its not enough he should travel more...mr president sir please there are 23 more days b4 2013 theres still time...bastards
ReplyDeleteAmerican gment spent $1.7bn on obamas family last year headline that this is not news worthy has we know when d pres fly a 2 fightter jet must escort him wherever he goes so pls don't badmouth this
ReplyDeleteJust had to comment - God your English stinks!!!
DeleteJust prayin to God dat badluck jonathan will surely die dis year...»
ReplyDeleteAMEN IN JESUS NAME
DeleteI feel your prayer, God is not asleep
DeleteWe'll wait & c if u & other GEJ haters will outlive GEJ...
Delete- Dox
Jonathan, God is watching u on 3D toh bad, using ur followers hard earned tax money anyhow,ur a Bad leader! u need to be impeached, Asap! While ur citizens r starving, dieing, suffering n smiling. God save nig. from all dis highly inefficient corrupt hungry leaders. Linda mk sure u post my comment.
ReplyDeleteHe didn't have to spend that much.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the bulk of that could've been used for the betterment of the country.
Is he thinking of his country? After all, one fool will come here and say Linda did not show respect by adding President in front of his name!
DeleteThere is obviously no accountability, what do u expect. Occupy Nigeria...
ReplyDeleteGosh this People...
ReplyDeleteThis is very pathetic especially when such frivolous trips do not yield any positive outcome for the Nigerian Citizenry.
ReplyDeleteTrue talk! Well said
DeleteHoly Ghost fire & brimstone will knock them out!
ReplyDeleteMy fellow Nigerians how much longer are we going to accept these greedy oju o ri ola ri heartless bastards as our rulers?! If Egypt can do it so can we
That's our president!
ReplyDeletemek una leave d man alone, can u tell me amuch obasanjo spent.
ReplyDeleteOh boy i tire o!I'm a yoruba man and after seeing what one of our own did for 8yrs and still continues to meddle i.e phcn privatisation,i can't blame Jonah...atleast d oil na dem own and they've only produced 1 president in d history of Nigeria.Obasanjo remains d biggest obstacle to progress in this country,even Ibb that stole invested a lot of money in this country n creates hundreds of thousands of jobs that sustain families,put children through school etc.Obasanjo Olusegun,i'm ashamed of u with every fibre of my being.
DeleteIf OBJ don steal 1 naira, Jonathan don double him own!
DeleteThe fact remains that Obasanjo set d stage 4 everything that's happening today,Jonathan can only try all this nonsense because Obj's moving around scot-free.It's high time we took d law in to our own hands n deliver our dear country from all these monsters.
DeleteIf there's a God up there somewhere, I'm sure there's a special hell being planned for these people.
ReplyDeletepatience jonatahn travelling with friends?????stupid woman
ReplyDeleteAbeg where she dey now?This her own hide & seek makes Yar'adua's own look like cartoon
DeleteOle.... Haaaaaa Kai
ReplyDeletePple dey suffer m president is eating money ,
I declare in the name of Jesus Christ,Jonathan will be the LAST bad president Nigeria will ever have. If Jesus Christ created me and everything in the Bible is correct,then I have that little Faith. Jonathan,enjoy for your end is near!!!
ReplyDeleteIs dis a prayer or curse? God still remains d Ultimate Judge of d Earth. Let's wait & knw if it will b GEJ's end or yours.
DeleteFYI Obj did worse dan GEJ!
wen pple don die finish 4 here 9 president and vic presido dey eat all d money......we dey luk dem with 3D eye *wink*
ReplyDeleteI smell occupy Nigeria part 2 soon... Pray this 1 works out.
ReplyDeleteCommon Nigerians, N3.3.bn small now...we should not complain until it reaches N3.3trn...shebi we have oyel and he is spending oyel money!
ReplyDeleteOloriburuku of a president....omo ale jati jati!!!
This is where Sanusi is wrong in sacking civil servants, its the OPERATIONAL COSTS that is the bane of our problems.
ReplyDeleteAll this yeye traveling without achieving nothing for the economy and wasting our money.
ReplyDeletehttp://applytojobs.blogspot.co.uk
Some people r utterly senseless with dier comments, remove sentiment or ethnicity,we av every right 2 vet d govt expenses nd expenditure bcz it is govt 4 d ppl. Our Govt officials r clearly inconsiderate in dier expenses. Dey expct Nigerians 2 put up wit d hardship whc dy as leaders are not prepared 2 share in. God hears our clamour!
ReplyDeleteForeign trips cost a lot for Presidents. Linda, dont be ignorant and ignite an unecessary fire!
ReplyDeleteSo i can't help but wonder'And this is a man who once had no shoes'..This man is a huge disappontment...no one is stopping him from travelling since he's a tourist*sarcastic face*,but how dare he spend such an amount on just Travelling expenditure? The amount is outrageous,Gosh! This man is such a failure...
ReplyDelete@ occupy 9ja,but how?
ReplyDelete**lincoln
@ occupy 9ja,but how?
ReplyDelete**lincoln
I patiently read all through to see if it will be stated that he travelled for personal enjoyment. This trips are official and I've never heard or seen any president that ever travelled without entourage. If it were Obama u wouldn't talk.. Pls do post my comment.
ReplyDeleteJonathan Ole . E sa ma ko gbogbo owo Nigeria je. Ki omo ijo ma ru, ki pastor ma sanra. But u should remember what we do today will be history tomorrow. GOD DEY.
ReplyDeleteUr broda Obj is a much bigger OLE!
DeleteY'all are getting this shit wrong, The issue on ground is nt dat he has to travel bcos hes president but the way himself and others just blow ridiculous amounts of money on somewhat irrelevant things. Must he go for all conferences around d world? How many presidents came for the conferences. Why is it that Naija's presidential fleet has over 7 aircrafts each costing bout 8 billion?? We are a developing country and all these things are unnecessary considering the level of poverty in the land..
ReplyDeleteI hope sanusi saw ds article
ReplyDeleteDr Chinedu DDS, it seem is someone like with your stupis tribalism that push this country to where it is.
ReplyDeleteWhen Obasanjo was he not criticised? Do they not fault/cursed Abacha and many others for looting recently?
You need to check yourself up.
U'r a bloody & shameless tribalist! It's stupid fellows like u dat are creating problms in dis country with ur lies & propaganda. Did u protest for any of d evils committed by Obj? Wht did Obj nt do? Obj killed, assassinated, looted, embezzled, misappropriated, diverted, wasted money & lives, rigged elections, messed up Natl Ass, converted state ppties to personal, plunged 9ja into unequalled level of bribery & corruption. D list is endless, & yt bigots like u almost succeeded in giving him a 3rd term.
DeleteNonsense!
Anonymous December 8, 2012 7:48 AM
ReplyDeleteWhy respect someone that did not respect his people?
Freedom of speech my dear. They call Obama all sort of names.
So you haven't seen someone they call uncle and disrespect him.
Get on with your life.
Did u eva called Obj a killer, murderer, looter, or worst president?
DeleteU must be mannerless & arrogant!
Someday, GEJ would be a good president.
ReplyDeletehttp://nonsoobi.blogspot.co.uk/
NYC-1 says: @ anon 9.34 AM. It is people like you that makes me want to come back to Nigeria and re-educate you politicians. America is the largest economy in the world. California annual budget alone is equal or greater than that of France in Europe; not to talk of the remaining 49 states in America. Walmart Stores' gross domestic product (GDP) is bigger than Nigeria's GDP. This is just a tip of the iceberg. Relatively, if you compare expenses based on the premise you are suggesting, then, Jonathan should be ridding 'Kabukabu' to Aso Rock; so, what you said does not make any sense. Besides, where did you get your figure of $1.7bn?
ReplyDeleteIf an official trip has no possitive impact in the life of Nigerians, of what use is the trip? Anyway, they run Nigeria like personal estate, so the masses are just numbers. The 'Idiagbons' are gone, what we have today is big belly boys: give me my own share and you have no problems. Just like OBJ said: I wish Nigeria luck.
Blunt Queen! You want finish person with grammar O!
ReplyDeleteSO HAPPY MY TAX PAYERS MONEY GOES TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT...AND ITS USED TO BUILD ROADS, NHS, LIGHT AND OTHER SOCIAL AMENITIES.....
ReplyDeleteI WEEP FOR THE PEOPLE OF NIGERIA...WHO WORK HARD AND YET THE MONEY IS SPENT BY FRIENDS OF PATIENCE WHO HAVE NO BUSINESS BEEN THERE.
Obama has traveled for more than 50 times this year. Most presidents and prime ministers travel more than 20 times in year for official trips. So who is counting how many Jonathan is doing? It is part of his job to travel. He needs to represent Nigeria in other countries. He needs to travel to invite other countries to do business and invest into Nigeria in other to create jobs for some of the people writing and complaining here. 20 times is not even enough. in 2010- Obama traveled more than 70 times.
ReplyDeleteabeg leave mr president alone o, if i were mr President, i will travel 50 times a year. lol
ReplyDeleteI don't care how often this guy is in the air but I am concerned about the results of these trips..the questions we should be asking is "are we benefiting as a nation"?
ReplyDeleteChiaa!!! FG of Nigeria...chopping dey Game
ReplyDeleteShei! They yaff killed us in this country o! Aunty dame dey even carry frds and associates along... Yet, people lik Sanusi wl always want to start dir dwnsizin frm people that earn peanuts! God dey sha
ReplyDeleteThere is lack of intergrity at the presidency. If their is accountability and transparency, all these will not be happening. For saharareporter to have demand for how many were onboard with the president to brazil to have not answer shows they lack intergrity. They are going to this developed nation, what do dey bring come us. Na too dey copy copy banquet hall for themselves. Not thinking of improving the economy, developing the amenties and the likes. Want to have a flat belly, burn fat, maintain your shape with fitness. Visit this web address www.bitly.com/fitnessandweightloss
ReplyDeleteWho is theidiot comparing Obama with Jonathan? Ode, mumu for life.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous December 8, 2012 7:23 PM
ReplyDeleteThank you soooo much for that little info for the mumus that reply to this topic.
They are such a fool like the people in charge of Nigeria. Their common sense is not common after all. Lol
NYC-1 says: @anon 7.55 PM. You sound so un-informed. You attract foreing investors by cleaning the mess in your country. Look at the mess in Nigeria: The govt does nothing to protect the lives of citizens; Power failure has not been checked, despite the billions of Naira that comes in everyday; the politicians are massively looting with reckless abandon, and no one is being punished. I could write a novel if I continue.
ReplyDeleteisnt that the job of the vice president or the equivalent of the secretary of state ???
ReplyDeleteJona continue with ur lies and looting of our wealth with ur cronies, God is warning u to adhere to the cries of the masses but u are choosing to harden ur heart, GOD will soon come calling, hope u have answers ready for him. OLEE!!!!. Let ur brother's death be a warning. Mr President govern us well.
ReplyDeleteU must b suffering from insanity! It's ur kinsmen who are the biggest liars & looters of our commonwealth.
DeleteThe death of GEJ's broda shld serve as a clear warning to u & ur kinsmen.
Obj can choke on his luck,he's a bastard for wishing Nigeria luck...we can do without his type of luck!
ReplyDelete20 times only? As a whole president of Nigeria? Abeg People need to calm down. I'm an engineer and I've topped more than 20 international business trips this year only. Make we hear word abeg!
ReplyDeletei dont know what he is looking for up and down!
ReplyDelete