{
  "id": 8843689,
  "title": "MDAs’ foreign trips gulp N50bn",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/mdas-foreign-trips-gulp-n50bn",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T05:02:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/mdas-foreign-trips-gulp-n50bn/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Federal agencies and ministries spent a total of N50.41 billion on foreign travel between June 2023 and June 2026, according to an analysis of government payment records. The expenditure, broken down by various components, primarily consisted of $23.70 billion for foreign air tickets, representing 47% of the total. Estacode and offshore allowances accounted for $17.05 billion, or 33.8% of the spending. Other expenses, such as visas, accommodation, participation fees, foreign exchange, protocol, and travel logistics, totaled $5.35 billion, or 10.6% of the overall expenditure. Training outside Nigeria accounted for $4.32 billion, or 8.6% of the total.",
  "summary": "Nigerian federal ministries, departments, and agencies spent at least N50.41bn on foreign trips, air tickets, and allowances between June 2023 and June 202 Read More: https://punchng.com/mdas-foreign-trips-gulp-n50bn/",
  "key_points": [
    "N50.41 billion spent on foreign travel by MDAs from 2023-2026",
    "$23.70 billion allocated for foreign air tickets, 47% of total",
    "$5.35 billion spent on visas, accommodation, and other expenses"
  ],
  "editors_take": "This massive expenditure on foreign travel by MDAs indicates a significant drain on Nigeria's resources, with a substantial portion allocated to air tickets and allowances.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "MDAs’ foreign trips gulp N50bn",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/mdas-foreign-trips-gulp-n50bn-8844174",
        "published": "2026-09-21T05:04:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}