President Bola Tinubu has banned ministers, heads of agencies, and other government officials from embarking on publicly funded foreign trips.

The ban will last for three months in the first instance and will take effect on April 1.

This was 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.

According to the letter, the ban is aimed at reducing the costs of governance and is intended as a cost-saving measure without compromising government functions.

The letter expressed the president’s concerns about the rising cost of travel expenses borne by the MDAs as well as the growing need for cabinet members and heads of agencies to focus on their respective mandates for effective service delivery.

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 any such trip, which must be ‘deemed necessary’.