President Bola Tinubu has temporarily halted ministers, agency heads, and other government officials from embarking on publicly funded foreign trips.

Contained in a letter dated March 12, 2024, signed by the Chief of Staff to the president, Femi Gbajabiamila, and addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the restriction will last three months in the first instance and will take effect on April 1, 2024.

The directed expresses concerns about the rising cost of travel expenses borne by Ministries, Department and Agencies of Government as well as the growing need for cabinet members and heads of MDAs to focus on their respective mandates for effective service delivery.

According to the letter, the ban aimed to reduce governance costs and the need for responsible fiscal management, without compromising government function.

President Tinubu added that government officials who intend to go on any publicly funded foreign trip must seek and get presidential approval at least two weeks before embarking on it, which must be ‘deemed absolutely necessary’.