Human rights lawyer Omoyele Sowore has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ongoing visit to the United Kingdom, describing it as a “diplomatic excursion” with no tangible benefit to Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Sowore dismissed the significance of the trip, arguing that such foreign engagements do not translate into real gains for the country.
“These visits are nothing more than diplomatic excursions. Perhaps the president will also see his doctors; he has not travelled in about a month,” he said.
“I’m just saying, beyond the fanfare you are seeing on TV, it’s not bringing anything to Nigeria that Nigeria cannot get or should not have. That’s the point I’m making, and we are just deceiving ourselves all the time by saying this time we travel.”
Sowore, who was the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election, maintained that despite repeated international trips by the president since assuming office, there has been no measurable economic return.
He argued that no “single dime” has entered Nigeria as a result of such visits, insisting that the government’s justification of attracting foreign investment lacks evidence.
According to him, the cost of these trips outweighs any perceived benefit, describing them as wasteful.
“The cost of these travels is far more at the end, outweighing whatever we come from the so-called investment they claim is going to happen,” he stated.
“If you have it right, investors will come to your country. You don’t need to travel.”
Sowore further compared the president’s foreign engagements to international tours by Nigerian entertainers, claiming that musicians often generate more revenue for the country than official state visits.
“Sometimes, some of these our musicians who go and perform in the UK bring more money into the country than when the president travels to the UK or anywhere,” he added.
President Tinubu is currently in United Kingdom for a historic state visit—the first by a Nigerian leader in nearly four decades. During the trip, he is scheduled to meet King Charles III as part of efforts to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between both nations.
Nigeria and the UK maintain long-standing relations in trade, defence, and development cooperation, with London also hosting a large Nigerian diaspora. Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi, arrived on Tuesday at London’s Stansted Airport.
What you should know
Sowore’s criticism reflects a broader debate in Nigeria over the value of frequent foreign trips by government officials.
While the Tinubu administration argues that such visits attract investment and strengthen international partnerships, critics insist that the benefits are not visible in the local economy.
The ongoing UK visit, despite its diplomatic significance, has reignited concerns about government spending, accountability, and whether international engagements translate into real economic growth for Nigerians.
