Paul Ibe, media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Presidency over what he described as a persistent lack of clarity on President Bola Tinubu’s foreign trips, particularly regarding return dates.
The criticism follows the announcement that President Tinubu is scheduled to depart Abuja on Monday, January 26, 2026, for a state visit to Turkey. The Presidency described the trip as a multi-day diplomatic engagement aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and exploring cooperation in areas such as security, education, social development, innovation, and aviation.
According to the statement by Presidential Spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the visit will include strategic political discussions, meetings with high-ranking officials, and the signing of memoranda of understanding covering scientific research, energy, technical cooperation, media and communications, military collaboration, and protocol.
However, the statement did not indicate when the President would return, noting only that he would be back “at the conclusion of the visit.”
Reacting on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Ibe expressed concern over the omission, describing it as a recurring trend. “What is this new trend of not giving a date of the return of the President whenever he is travelling out?” he questioned.
He also made a sarcastic comment, suggesting that the open-ended scheduling could allow unscheduled detours. “Maybe it’s to determine if a few days in France to lounge and drink Pina Colada with the French squad can be squeezed in,” he wrote.
The remarks highlight ongoing public scrutiny over transparency and accountability regarding presidential travel schedules.
