By Abimbola Ogunnaike
In adherence to President Bola Tinubu’s instruction to halt publicly-funded overseas trips by ministers and government officials, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has announced a temporary suspension of any public-funded foreign travels by agencies and officials affiliated with the Ministry.
Keyamo instructed all agencies and personnel within the ministry to cease all authorized foreign travels starting from Thursday, 21 March, 2024.
This was contained in an official document dated Thursday, 21 March, 2024, signed by Dr Emmanuel C. Meribole, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation on behalf of the Minister.
The statement reads, “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.”
