The figure, which covers January to June, marks a 14.72 per cent increase from the N69.71billion spent during the same period in 2024, Punch reports.
At least 29 state governors have spent N79.97bn on domestic and international travels within the first six months of 2025, budget records have shown.
The figure, which covers January to June, marks a 14.72 per cent increase from the N69.71billion spent during the same period in 2024, Punch reports.
It has triggered renewed public outrage over fiscal irresponsibility, especially as most states continue to grapple with mounting debts, dwindling revenues, and economic hardship among citizens.
Despite the huge outlay, only Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Kano, and Ekiti states attracted foreign capital inflows in the first quarter of the year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
The Federal Capital Territory topped the list with $3.05bn, Lagos followed with $2.56bn, while Kano received just $120,000.
This means that 31 states failed to secure any form of foreign investment during the review period, despite the billions spent on trips ostensibly aimed at attracting it.
Lagos recorded the highest travel expenditure, with N6.23bn in Q1 alone, followed by Osun (N6.21bn) and Kano (N5.58bn). Taraba, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Borno, Yobe, and Edo also featured among the top spenders.
By geopolitical breakdown, South-West governors were the biggest travellers, spending N19.92billion (24.9 per cent of the total), followed by the North-West with N17.58billion and the North-East with N13.92bn.
President Bola Tinubu had recently urged governors to redirect spending towards projects that directly impact rural communities.
“I want to appeal to you; let us change the story of our people in the rural areas… We have to embrace mechanisation in agriculture, fight insecurity, and improve school enrolment through feeding,” he said.
Backing the call, Muda Yusuf said, “Governors should not only concentrate development in the state capital, but also spread development to other locations within the state.”
Pro Segun Ajibola lamented that state assemblies had abandoned their oversight duties, leaving “no iota of transparency and accountability,” while Professor Jonathan Aremu stated, “Investment doesn’t go to places where there are crises.”
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