Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who recently announced stringent measures to reduce the number of individuals accompanying him during official travels as part of the government’s cost-cutting initiatives, allegedly violated his own directive.
Last Tuesday, Tinubu emphasised a significant cut in his entourage size, limiting it to 25 individuals for local travels and 20 for international engagements.
However, during his visit to Imo State on Monday for the inauguration of Governor Hope Uzodinma’s second term, reports indicate that Tinubu’s entourage comprised more than 50 individuals.
According to Premium Times, at least 25 people accompanied Bola Tinubu on the presidential aircraft, with an additional 30 officials traveling ahead of his arrival in Owerri.
The entourage included notable figures such as Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, senior special assistants, personal secretaries, security personnel, media representatives, two presidential photographers, an official videographer, and NTA reporters and cameramen.
A State House official described the situation as “ludicrous,” highlighting that additional personnel were mobilized to travel ahead of the Tinubu’s arrival, including security details, protocol officials, and journalists.
This contradicts the directive to deploy security agents at the destination for protection instead of accompanying an extensive security detail from Abuja.