President Buhari is currently on a trip to South Africa to attend the forum on China-Africa Co-operation which holds from December 4 to 5. He is expected to discuss ways of removing all obstacles in the way of the 3,050 MW Mambila Power Station, a project which was conceived in 1982 but has not taken off. He is also expected to discuss the MTN fine with the his counterpart in South Africa.
By our records, this will be the 11th country Buhari is visiting and the 13th time he has traveled out of the country since he became president in May 29, 2015. He has basically traveled about twice every month.
The countries he visited:
1.Chad
2.Niger
3.Germany
4.Ghana
5.South Africa (twice)
6.U.S
7.Cameroon
8.India
9.Iran
10.Malta
11.France (Twice)
How long he stayed in the countries:
a.Chad:a day (Jun 1, 2015)
b.Niger:a day (Jun 2, 2015)
c.Germany:2 days (Jun 7, 2015 – Jun 8, 2015)
d.Ghana:a day (06 September 2015)
e.South Africa (Twice) :3 days (July 13 2015 – July 15 2015), (December 3-5)
f.United state of America: 4 days (July 20 2015 – July 23 2015)
g.Cameroon:2 days (30 July 2015 – 31 July 2015)
h.India:4 days (29 October 29 2015 – 1 September 2015)
i.Iran:a day (November 23 2015)
j.Malta:4 days (November 27 2015 – November 30 2015)
k.France (Twice):3 days,3 days. (September 13, 2015 – September 15, 2015) (November 30, 2015 – November 32, 2015)
The president has nevertheless come under criticism over his frequent travels considering the many challenges facing the country. There is the continuing insurgency in the North with Boko Haram bombing and undefeated. There is also a growing uprising in the South East as splinter groups clash with the police over their agitation for Biafra. The economy is also under a downturn with the capital market dropping to a three year low and the gap between the official and parallel market of the exchange rate widening by the day.
In response to the criticisms the presidential spokesman claims all his travels are a necessary aspects of his change mantra.
