Bola Tinubu, whose administration spent nearly $100 million on an aircraft just two months ago, has warned that Nigeria is on the brink of bankruptcy, urging newly appointed ministers to dedicate themselves fully to saving the country.
“We’re faced with a nation that is on edge of bankruptcy, and that’s the truth and you are called upon to join the team to rescue this country,” Mr Tinubu said in Abuja on Monday at the swearing-in ceremony for his new appointees.
“The moment is challenging; the present situation calls for a very serious commitment. Yours is a duty to serve and that is what you have come to do.”
However, his remarks sparked public outrage, as citizens criticized the president for not setting an example due to his lavish lifestyle and recent purchase of an A330 Brabus in August, even as the country faced its worst cost-of-living crisis.
Though one of Mr. Tinubu’s aides downplayed the purchase, claiming the aircraft was refurbished and not brand new, Bloomberg reported its cost at nearly $100 million—a spending choice Nigerians viewed as misplaced, given the soaring food prices, energy shortages, and growing insecurity.
The timing of the aircraft purchase—when the government was still negotiating the minimum wage and hadn’t implemented the proposed ₦70,000 minimum wage—added to speculations that Mr. Tinubu’s administration prioritized luxury expenses for top officials over improving citizens’ quality of life.
Online critics condemned the president, accusing him of lacking empathy for the same citizens who voted him into office.
Accusations of a lack of empathy first emerged in August 2023 when Mr. Tinubu traveled to Dubai for the #COP28 Climate Summit with a delegation of over 1,400 people—a large entourage that frustrated citizens, who questioned the need for such a sizeable group.
Many argued that the president should be reducing government expenses, not spending taxpayer money to fly hundreds across the world. Although aides claimed that most delegates funded their own trips, Premium Times reported that around 600 were government-sponsored. The costs for round trips, accommodations, and other expenses likely burdened the nation with a heavy, unnecessary expense.
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The situation worsened in October 2023 when the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu, flew the presidential jet to Kano to attend a polo tournament.
This led to public accusations of double standards, as citizens noted that while Nigerians were urged to accept the removal of fuel subsidies as a necessary sacrifice, the president’s son was enjoying travel on a taxpayer-funded jet. Many questioned why Mr. Seyi, who holds no official position, was permitted to use the presidential aircraft as he pleased.
As Nigerians struggled with the impact of fuel subsidy removal and a weakening naira, outrage grew in November 2023 when Mr. Tinubu approved ₦21 billion to renovate Kashim Shettima’s residence.
Citizens criticized Tinubu for having misplaced priorities, arguing that the funds could have been directed toward more urgent economic sectors rather than upgrading the vice president’s home.
Citizens have said Mr Tinubu — with a lavish lifestyle of junketing France and UK — cannot turn around to say Nigeria was on the verge of bankruptcy without checking his lifestyle to reduce the cost of governance.
A netizen @iam_DaPosh described Mr Tinubu’s statement about the nation on the brink of bankruptcy as “Big lies!”
“If truly you want to work, there would have been no purchase of presidential jet with trillions of Naira, allocation of billions to the office of the first lady, renovation of vice president’s office with 22 billion Naira, shady contract allocation to friends running into trillions, award of coastal road for trillions of Naira, purchase of presidential yacht and so many other nonsense going on,” he wrote on X Monday evening.
@IceColdEmmanuel wrote “Yet he forked out billions to indulge in a pj & Cadillac splurge. A bankrupt nation renovating its VP’s lodge with 21 billion Naira, if no be see finish be dis Wetin e come be?”
“A nation that is on the edge of bankruptcy yet the leader of the nation is buying private jet, building house worth billions of naira for his vice, appointing 47 ministers, embarking on project that are currently not needed in the country. Please enough of all these jare,”@Egedice wrote on X Monday evening.
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