Following this, the Senate Committee on Marine Transport will embark on a similar trip to Houston, Texas, for another official engagement taking place from May 5 to 8, 2025.
The Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security is scheduled to travel out of Nigeria to host an official event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from April 27 to May 3, 2025.
Following this, the Senate Committee on Marine Transport will embark on a similar trip to Houston, Texas, for another official engagement taking place from May 5 to 8, 2025.
The travel plans were disclosed in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and signed by Senator Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura. The letter, dated April 2025 and bearing reference number SEN/KTNTH/OGM/S.2/VOL.1/225, is titled “Notification of Intention to Travel Abroad.”
Senator Daura, who represents Katsina North Senatorial District, currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD in the 10th National Assembly.
The letter reads, “Pursuant to Order 16 of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 as amended, I write to formally inform you that I will be travelling out of the country on Committees’ assignment from 27th April to 14th May, 2025.
“The Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security will be holding an event in Dubai from 27th April to 3rd May, 2025 followed by the Senate Committee on Marine Transport’s event in Houston from 5th-8th May, 2025.”
“I wish Your Excellency and all the Distinguished Senators fruitful deliberations while I am away,” he added in the letter.
The letter was copied to all Principal Officers and Senators.
Senator Sanni Wasiu Eshilokun, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport and Blue Economy, along with the Vice Chairman, Senator Sunday Karimi, and the Committee Clerk, Bukar Bulama Dauda, are listed as delegates for the Houston, U.S. trip.
For the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime, Senator Agadaga Benson Sunday is named among those scheduled to attend the event in Dubai. Also listed for the trip are the committee’s Vice Chairman, Senator Sani Zangon Daura, and Clerk, Ayoh O.E. Ogon.
An insider, visibly upset by the development, questioned the justification for the foreign trips, saying:
“Is it morally right for Nigerian Senators to travel abroad to hold oversight meetings? Why are these events taking place in Dubai and Houston?”
The source added, “What happened to cities like Enugu, Ibadan, or Kaduna? This is nothing but a wasteful looting of our commonwealth.”
Generally, opposition parties have accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of excessive and wasteful foreign trips. Critics argue that these trips, often accompanied by large delegations, have little to show in terms of tangible benefits for the country.
The frequent travels are seen as a drain on the nation’s resources, especially given the economic challenges Nigeria faces.
An audit report revealed that the Senate spent over ₦3.6 billion in 2019 without proper documentation or evidence of how the funds were utilised. Additionally, taxes deducted from staff salaries, such as Withholding Tax (WHT) and Value Added Tax (VAT), were not remitted to the appropriate authorities.
Reports have highlighted how unchecked corruption, wasteful spending, and poor fiscal policies have contributed to Nigeria’s growing debt profile. These practices, including those by legislative bodies, have been criticised for depriving the government of increased revenue.
