Peter Obi has criticised the scale and outcome of President Bola Tinubu’s recent state visit to the United Kingdom, arguing that foreign trips by national leaders should produce measurable economic benefits rather than symbolic displays.
In a lengthy statement shared on social media, the former Labour Party presidential candidate said diplomacy should focus on attracting investments, industrial partnerships, technology transfer and job creation. “State visits by Leaders are not tourism, and diplomacy is not a fashion parade,” Obi wrote.
“Every foreign trip undertaken by a government must deliver measurable benefits to the people, including investments, technology transfer, trade agreements, factory expansion, industrial partnerships, and job creation.” Obi referenced a recent visit by Donald Trump to China, claiming the American delegation included major business and technology executives alongside senior government officials.
He said the trip reportedly resulted in multi-billion-dollar trade agreements, including around 200 Boeing aircraft orders. Among those Obi listed as part of the US delegation were Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Tim Cook, Larry Fink, Stephen Schwarzman and Kelly Ortberg.
“That is how serious nations approach diplomacy, by aligning foreign policy with economic expansion, industrial growth, innovation, and national productivity,” Obi stated. He then questioned the value of Nigeria’s recent UK trip, saying many Nigerians were still asking what concrete benefits the country secured from the visit.
“A large entourage of politicians, aides, and government officials travelled, yet Nigerians are still asking a simple question: what exactly did Nigeria bring home?” he said. Obi asked what factories, manufacturing agreements, technology partnerships or investments were secured during the visit and how many jobs would be created for Nigerians as a result.
According to him, the Nigerian delegation reportedly included the president, the First Lady, 12 governors, nine ministers, seven members of the National Assembly, more than 20 senior State House staff, over 30 security personnel, domestic staff and several associates. “It is not enough to ride horses, wear matching uniforms, attend royal banquets, and release glossy photographs. Symbolism without substance cannot feed hungry citizens,” Obi wrote.
The former Anambra State governor also expressed concern over Nigeria’s economic situation, citing insecurity, inflation, unemployment, poverty and declining industrial productivity. “At a time when millions of Nigerians struggle daily to afford food and survive economic hardship, every kobo spent on foreign trips must produce tangible national value: investments, factories, jobs, exports, infrastructure, and economic opportunities,” he added.
Obi concluded by calling for leadership that prioritises economic productivity and measurable results over ceremony and optics. “Nigeria needs leadership that is focused less on optics and more on productivity; less on ceremony and more on measurable economic results,” he said.
He tweeted:
“State visits by Leaders are not tourism, and diplomacy is not a fashion parade. Every foreign trip undertaken by a government must deliver measurable benefits to the people, including investments, technology transfer, trade agreements, factory expansion, industrial partnerships, and job creation.
During President Trump’s recent visit to China, the American delegation reportedly included a few top government officials, and many of the biggest figures in global business and technology:
Consequently, huge trade deals worth several billion dollars including about 200 Boeing orders were achieved.
The list of the entourage included
1. Donald J. Trump – President of the United States
2. Marco Rubio – Secretary of State
3. Pete Hegseth – Secretary of Defence
4. Elon Musk – CEO, Tesla & SpaceX
5. Jensen Huang – CEO, Nvidia
6. Tim Cook – CEO, Apple
7. Larry Fink – CEO, BlackRock
8. Stephen Schwarzman – CEO, Blackstone
9. Kelly Ortberg – CEO, Boeing
10. Brian Sikes – CEO, Cargill
11. Jane Fraser – CEO, Citigroup
12. Larry Culp – CEO, General Electric
13. David Solomon – CEO, Goldman Sachs
14. Sanjay Mehrotra – CEO, Micron Technology
15.Cristiano Amon – CEO, Qualcomm
16. Dina P. McCormick – President of Meta
17. Ryan McInerney – CEO, Visa
18. Michael Miebach – President, Mastercard
19. Jim Anderson – CEO, Coherent
20. Jacob Thaysen – CEO, Illumina
That is how serious nations approach diplomacy, by aligning foreign policy with economic expansion, industrial growth, innovation, and national productivity.
I hope that lessons can be learned from these recent visits comparing them with the President of Nigeria’s recent state visit to the United Kingdom.
A large entourage of politicians, aides, and government officials travelled, yet Nigerians are still asking a simple question: what exactly did Nigeria bring home?
Which factories are coming to Nigeria?
What power, technology, manufacturing, agricultural, or industrial agreements were secured?
How many direct jobs will this visit create for Nigerian youths?
What investments were attracted?
What measurable economic outcomes can the ordinary Nigerian point to?
The delegation reportedly included:
1. President Bola Tinubu
2. Senator (Mrs) Tinubu
3.12 governors
4.9 ministers
5.7 members of the National Assembly
6. Over 20 senior State House staff
7. Over 30 security personnel
8. Over 10 domestic staff
9. Several supporters and associates
It is not enough to ride horses, wear matching uniforms, attend royal banquets, and release glossy photographs. Symbolism without substance cannot feed hungry citizens.
Today, Nigeria is in decline, battling serious insecurity, food insecurity, unemployment, a weakened naira, declining industrial productivity, and worsening poverty.
At a time when millions of Nigerians struggle daily to afford food and survive economic hardship, every kobo spent on foreign trips must produce tangible national value: investments, factories, jobs, exports, infrastructure, and economic opportunities.
Nigeria needs leadership that is focused less on optics and more on productivity; less on ceremony and more on measurable economic results.
A New Nigeria is POssible. -PO”
