Tinubu’s Paris Retreat: Strategic Planning or Luxury Getaway Amid Economic Hardship?

Amid growing economic struggles and public discontent, President Bola Tinubu is set to depart for Paris, France, on a two-week “working visit.” The move has sparked controversy, with critics questioning the necessity of such an extended foreign retreat at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship.

According to a statement by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the trip will serve as a time for the President to “appraise his administration’s mid-term performance and assess key milestones.” However, skeptics argue that such evaluations could be conducted within Nigeria, rather than from the luxury of Paris.

The Presidency insists that the retreat will allow Tinubu to “review the progress of ongoing reforms and engage in strategic planning” ahead of his administration’s second anniversary. The government also highlighted recent economic improvements, citing a rise in the Central Bank of Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves to $23.11 billion—an increase from the $3.99 billion reported in 2023. But many Nigerians remain unconvinced, pointing out that the cost of living remains unbearably high.

While Tinubu will reportedly continue overseeing governance remotely, critics question whether this two-week absence is justifiable. With fuel subsidy removals forcing citizens to tighten their belts, some view the Paris retreat as tone-deaf and out of touch with the struggles of ordinary Nigerians.

The President is expected to return in about a fortnight, but the debate over the necessity—and optics—of this foreign retreat is far from over.