The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has suspended any government-funded foreign travels by agencies and officials in the ministry.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Dr Emmanuel Meribole, on behalf of Keyamo on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

Keyamo said the ban was in adherence to President Bola Tinubu’s instruction to halt government-funded overseas trips by ministers and government officials.

The minister directed all agencies and personnel within the ministry to cease all authorised foreign travels commencing from March 21, 2024.

Tinubu bans govt officials from travelling abroad

The statement read: “I am directed to inform you to suspend all foreign trips approved by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development for all Officers in the Ministry and Agencies under Aviation with effect from 21st March 2024. This is in furtherance of a Presidential directive to suspend public-funded trips by government officials at all levels.

“Any Officer who intends to go on any public funded International trip must seek and obtain Presidential approval at least 2 weeks prior to embarking on such trips which must be deemed absolutely necessary.

“All previously given approvals by the Honourable Minister is hereby put on hold from today 21st March 2024. Please, direct all your DFAs not to process any flight tickets and estacodes for now. Please, this is for strict compliance.”

The Star