Tinubu travels to Qatar with 38-man delegation
It’s breach of pledge to cut cost of governance–CSOs
President Bola Tinubu yesterday departed Nigeria for a two-day official visit to the State of Qatar on the invitation of His Highness, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar.
Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale,
in a statement, said Tinubu would be accompanied on the trip by senior government officials who were expected to sign several agreements focused on boosting Nigeria’s real sector and creating valueadditive investments across the fields of trade, education, culture, solid minerals and others.
Ngelale did not disclose the number of the officials that traveled with the president.
But an updated list of the president’s entourage obtained by Daily Trust showed a 38man delegation.
The president had, on January 9, in what his handlers described as a massive costcutting exercise, directed that no more than 20 individuals be allowed to go on foreign trips with him.
He gave the directive weeks after Nigerians had knocked his administration for participating in the United Nation’s annual climate summit, COP28, in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, with 1,114 delegates. The Presidency then clarified that it sponsored only 422 delegates amidst reports that the federal government spent N2.78 billion on airfares and estacodes for the summit.
On the updated list of delegation for the president’s state visit to Doha, Qatar from 2nd to 3rd of March, 2024, include Seyi Tinubu (private), Yinka Tinubu (private), Hakeem Muri-Okunola (Principal Private Secretary), Amb. Victor Adekunle Adeleke (SCOP),
Dr Ade Tinubu (PP), Subair Oluwatoyin, SSAP (Household), Damilotun Aderemi (SSAP, private secretary, c-in-c), Lukumon A. Fasasi (CSO), Lt Col. Nurudeen A. Yusuf (ADC), DCP Usman Shugaba (ACP, CPSO) and Mohammed Bashir (CD, CSIO).
Also on the delegation are Kamorudeen Olawale Yusuf (PA, Special Duties), Olawale Fadare (PA, General Duties), Nosa Asemota (Official
Photographer),
Sunday Moses (Personal Assistant Videographer), Musbau Danwahab (NTA reporter), Nuhu Baba Ahmed (SSIO TECH OPS), Adeagbo Olaide (Luggage officer), Yusuf Suliat (Personal Assistant, ADC), John Adinoyi (Senior Personal Assistant) and John Dosu (Steward).
Others are Prof. Umaru Babagana Zulum (Borno Governor), Mal. Uba Sani (Kaduna Governor), Amb. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar (Hon. Minister, Foreign Affairs), Wale Edun (Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy), Dele Alake (Minister, Solid Minerals Development) and Dr Doris A. Uzoka-Anite (Minister, Trade, Industry and Investment).
Also on the delegation are Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (NSA), Mal. Mele Kolo Kyari (GCEO, NNPCL), Ajuri Ngelale (SP Adviser, Media), Amb. AuduRafiu D. Enikanolaiy (SSAP, FA & IR), Musa Yakubu (PLO), Taiwo Okanlawon (official photographer),
Lukman Sani (NTA cameraman), Emmanuel Elebhose (Snr Personal Asst/ CSO), an aide to Borno State governor and an aide to Kaduna State governor.
A competent source close to Borno State governor, Zulum, confirmed to Daily Trust last night that the governor is part of the delegation as indicated in the list obtained by this newspaper.
Similarly,
a credible
source close to Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani also confirmed to Daily Trust that his principal “and only one aide” were part of President Tinubu’s delegation to Qatar.
The Kaduna State governor’s name also featured prominently in the list obtained by Daily Trust.
Meanwhile, a senior official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) told Daily Trust that the Group Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr. Mele Kyari Kolo “is most likely to proceed to that place (Qatar)” from Vienna, Austria, where he had attended a meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries OPEC).
The president’s spokesman, Ngelale, could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone was unavailable when Daily Trust called him.
Also, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, neither answered phone calls nor replied to a WhatsApp message sent to him to confirm the authenticity of his boss’ delegation list.
A member of the presidential team, who pleaded not to be mentioned because he was not authorised to comment on the issue, claimed that the list was fake. However, he did not disclose how many people traveled with the president.
Earlier in his statement yesterday, Ngelale said Tinubu’s visit was to further strengthen cooperation
between the two nations in several areas, including security, cultural exchange and economic development.
“During the visit, President Tinubu will witness the signing of several agreements focused on boosting Nigeria’s real sector and creating valueadditive investments across the fields of trade, education, culture, solid minerals, digital economy, agriculture, and gas, as well as fostering cooperation on counter-terrorism.
“The president will also participate in a business and investment forum that will bring together top-level executives in both the private and public sectors of Nigeria and Qatar to advance crosssectoral opportunities for mutually beneficial growth and development.
“The president will be accompanied on the trip by senior government officials for the signing of agreements,” the statement read in part.
CSOs fault long list of delegates
Executive Director, Cleen Foundation, Gad Peter, in a chat with Daily Trust, said leaders must keep to their promises, otherwise they would not be able to hold their subordinates accountable for their actions and inactions.
Senior Communications Officer, Yiaga Africa, Mark Amaza, said it was disappointing that after making a commitment to cutting costs of governance, especially regarding the size of delegations on trips, nothing seemed to have changed.
“Such developments diminish the public trust in government that they cannot walk their talks,” Amaza said.
Also, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International-Nigeria (TINigeria), said: “We know very well, even when Tinubu made the commitment that he was going to reduce the official entourage on foreign trips to 20, we know that this is not backed by serious commitment.
“This is because all the costs of running government under his government have not been cut down through the appropriation.
“So, for President Tinubu to go with this number against the pronouncement he made, which was 20, to now 38, it doesn’t show that there is any seriousness about reducing the cost of governance.”
“Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Ibrahim Zikirullahi, alleged that Tinubu’s failure to fulfill his promise of reducing the official delegation on foreign trips was not surprising.
“A truly committed president, focused on cutting the cost of governance, would not have authorized the allocation of N160 million for SUVs for each member of the National Assembly” he said.