A recent financial analysis has revealed that 29 state governors across Nigeria collectively spent a staggering ₦80 billion on both domestic and international travels within the first half of the year, despite recording low or poor returns on public investments during the same period.
The report, compiled from official budget performance documents and government expenditure records, shows that the huge travel expenses occurred at a time when most states are struggling with economic challenges, rising debt profiles, and dwindling internally generated revenue.
Critics argue that such lavish spending by state executives paints a troubling picture of fiscal irresponsibility, particularly when critical sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure suffer from chronic underfunding. In many states, civil servants remain unpaid for months, while pensioners complain of neglect and lack of welfare support.
Economic analysts have expressed concern that the governors’ travel patterns do not appear to be yielding substantial investment returns for their respective states, raising questions about the necessity and cost-effectiveness of such frequent trips.
Civil society organisations have called for greater transparency and accountability, urging state legislatures and anti-corruption agencies to scrutinise these expenditures. Many Nigerians are demanding that public funds be redirected towards urgent developmental needs rather than luxury travel allowances and overseas delegations.
With unemployment still on the rise and poverty levels deepening, the revelation has sparked public outrage on social media, where citizens are questioning the priorities of their elected leaders.