2026 Budget: Presidency Allocate N6.1bn for Tinubu, Shettima’s Foreign Trips

President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima are expected to spend a combined ₦6.1 billion on foreign travels in 2026, according to details contained in the 2026 Appropriation Bill currently before the National Assembly.

Budget documents indicate that the provision for international trips is captured under the State House Operations votes for both the President and the Vice President. The Presidency alone is projected to spend about ₦6.14 billion on overseas travels next year, while the Office of the Vice President has earmarked ₦1.31 billion for the same purpose.

These allocations form part of the broader State House Operations budget, with ₦8.38 billion proposed for the President and ₦2.64 billion for the Vice President in the 2026 fiscal year.

Beyond travel, the Presidency has also proposed ₦7 billion for the solarisation of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The project, listed as “Solarisation of the Villa with Solar Mini-Grid,” falls under the capital expenditure of the State House Headquarters, which has a total allocation of ₦43.19 billion for 2026.

The solar initiative comes against the backdrop of recurring instability in Nigeria’s national electricity grid, which has suffered multiple collapses in recent years, forcing government institutions and households to rely on alternative power sources.

The budget further shows that ₦3.3 billion has been set aside for the purchase and replacement of vehicles within the State House. Of this amount, ₦2.56 billion is earmarked for operational vehicles, ₦768.9 million for replacing SUVs, and ₦115.4 million for tyres for bullet-proof vehicles, ambulances and other official cars.

In addition, the Federal Government plans to spend ₦283.85 billion on presidential air fleet logistics and management in 2026. This allocation covers the operation and maintenance of aircraft used by the President and other top government officials, as well as related security logistics, including the national forest guard.

Significant funds have also been budgeted for maintenance and outstanding obligations. About ₦4.23 billion is proposed for routine maintenance of mechanical, electrical and civil infrastructure within the Presidential Villa and other State House facilities. Another ₦8.35 billion is allocated to settle liabilities owed to construction firm Julius Berger for retention and outstanding works in Abuja and Kaduna.

President Tinubu presented the ₦58.18 trillion 2026 federal budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 19, 2025, after it was approved by the Federal Executive Council. The Senate subsequently passed the bill for second reading on December 23, 2025.

The Appropriation Bill is still undergoing legislative scrutiny, with lawmakers expected to debate the proposed spending against the backdrop of rising economic pressures and competing national priorities.