Chairman of the National Policy Dialogue and political analyst, Abdulrahman Musa-Ododo, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s frequent foreign trips, insisting that sustained global engagement is critical for Nigeria’s economic survival and long-term development, despite growing public concern over costs and domestic challenges.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Monday, Musa-Ododo acknowledged Nigerians’ concerns over the scale and cost of the President’s travels but argued that isolation would be far more damaging to the country’s future.
“The question Nigerians are asking is a very valid question. Every Nigerian will be concerned and ask, ‘What are we making out of this?’ But we must also have the consciousness and intelligence to understand how a nation develops in a globalised world,” he said.
He described the global system as a competitive marketplace where countries must actively engage to attract capital, ideas, technology and trust.
“The world we live in today is a marketplace. Not just a marketplace, but the most contested realm. Countries are contending for attention, attraction and domination. No country has ever developed in isolation. You must engage, and that is exactly what President Tinubu is doing,” Musa-Ododo stated.
According to him, Nigeria is undergoing a difficult but necessary transition that demands intense diplomatic and economic engagement.
“Nigeria is at the pinnacle of the most significant evolutionary transition. Governing through this transition is always troublesome. In the study of statecraft, this is one of the rarest and most demanding phases of leadership,” he said.
Responding to criticisms that the trips have yet to deliver tangible benefits in areas such as unemployment, insecurity and poverty, Musa-Ododo stressed that diplomacy and investment attraction are long-term processes.
“Governance is a process. If you plant a seed today, you don’t expect it to germinate immediately. These reforms and engagements take time, and that is the reality of statecraft,” he said.
He cited figures released by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, noting that significant commitments had already been secured.
“As stated by the minister in his briefing, over 50.8 billion dollars across 87 memoranda of understanding have been committed to Nigeria so far. What remains is engagement and follow-up to translate those commitments into real outcomes,” he added.
On concerns that many past international agreements failed due to poor follow-up and the absence of Nigerian ambassadors in key countries, Musa-Ododo said responsibility now lies with cabinet ministers.
“That is exactly what the ministers are supposed to do. They have to follow up. Ambassadors have been designated and will eventually be posted, but ministers must drive the process in the meantime,” he said.
He argued that presidential presence plays a critical role in securing investor confidence.
“Investors do not commit billions based on documents alone. They commit on confidence. The presence of the President signals seriousness, stability and sovereign assurance. There are no deals you can bring to fruition without that signal,” Musa-Ododo said.
Addressing the reported ₦34 billion spent on foreign exchange for travel over two years, he admitted the costs were high but said engagement inevitably comes at a price.
“It has to come with spending. You cannot get anything without investing in it. However, I agree that as we go forward, we can find ways of reducing the cost,” he said.
He rejected arguments that virtual diplomacy could replace physical engagement at the presidential level.
“There are no deals of this magnitude that can be concluded without the physical presence of a president. Even developed countries are engaging aggressively. America is engaging. China is engaging. To become docile or isolated will cost Nigeria far more,” Musa-Ododo warned.
While conceding that travel frequency could be reviewed over time, he maintained that sustained engagement remains necessary at this stage.
“As we go on, adjustments can be made. But for now, engagement is very, very pertinent,” he said.
Boluwatife Enome
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