The Presidency on Saturday, May 16, 2026, reacted to comments made by former presidential candidate Peter Obi over President Bola Tinubu’s foreign trips and Nigeria’s delegation to the African CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, saying the criticism did not reflect the purpose of the international engagements or the people involved in the trip.
The response came after Obi questioned the value of some diplomatic outings by the Tinubu administration. He argued that foreign visits and international meetings should be judged by the economic gains they bring to Nigerians rather than public ceremonies or appearances.
In reaction, the Presidency, through the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, defended the trip and described the comments from Obi as misleading. The Presidency said the Nigerian delegation to the Kigali event included top business leaders and investors from different sectors of the economy.
Among those listed as part of the delegation were Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Tony Elumelu, Wale Tinubu and Jim Ovia. According to the Presidency, the presence of these business figures showed that the visit was focused on investment discussions and economic cooperation.
The Presidency also defended President Tinubu’s foreign engagements, saying the trips are aimed at improving trade relations, attracting investment and building confidence in Nigeria’s economy.
It stated that international diplomacy involves discussions and negotiations that may not always produce immediate public announcements but could still benefit the country in the long run.
The statement further argued that comparing Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts with those of countries like the United States does not fully consider the differences in economic strength and global influence between both nations.
The Presidency added that the Tinubu administration has already secured investment commitments in areas such as agriculture, energy, technology, manufacturing and solid minerals through continued international engagement. It also pointed to some policies introduced by the government, including the removal of fuel subsidy, reforms in the foreign exchange market, expansion of student loan programmes, increased allocations to states and support for compressed natural gas initiatives and food production.
According to the Presidency, criticism surrounding the size of presidential delegations and travel arrangements ignores the diplomatic and security responsibilities attached to such trips. It maintained that the administration remains focused on economic reforms, investment opportunities and long-term national development.
The statement also took a swipe at Obi’s political journey across different parties over the years while calling for more balanced public discussions on governance and national issues.