Tinubu Walks From Residence to Office Daily, Eats Once a Day — Revenue Service Chief
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Anyiam Marshall Chukwuka
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu walks from his residence to his office daily and only uses a vehicle when travelling to the airport, the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, has said.
Adedeji made the claim while responding to concerns over the lifestyle of public officials amid the economic difficulties confronting many Nigerians.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, the revenue service chief said the President’s personal habits demonstrated that he remained focused on governance rather than living an extravagant lifestyle.
According to him, Tinubu eats only once a day and has not travelled outside Nigeria in the past three months, presenting the claims as evidence of the President’s restraint despite his position.
Adedeji said the President’s daily routine was inconsistent with the perception that senior government officials were enjoying excessive luxury while Nigerians struggled with rising living costs.
He said Tinubu walks from his residence to his office as part of his daily routine and only makes use of a vehicle when he needs to travel to the airport.
The official also defended the use of high-end vehicles, including Cadillac Escalades, in the presidential convoy, questioning why the cost of such vehicles should become a major issue in assessing the President’s commitment to responsible governance.
“How much is an Escalade that the President of Nigeria cannot afford?” Adedeji asked, urging Nigerians and critics of the administration to avoid issues that, in his view, could portray the country negatively.
His comments come against the backdrop of continuing public debate over the cost of governance, official vehicles, foreign trips and other expenditures by political office holders at a time when households across the country are facing significant economic pressures.
Nigeria has experienced substantial economic pressures in recent years, including elevated food prices, increased transportation costs and pressure on household incomes. The removal of the petrol subsidy and reforms in the foreign exchange market under the Tinubu administration have also contributed to a difficult adjustment period for citizens and businesses.
The Federal Government has repeatedly defended its economic reform programme, arguing that the measures are intended to strengthen public finances, attract investment and establish a more sustainable economic foundation.
However, critics have continued to question the cost of maintaining government institutions and the lifestyle of political office holders, particularly when compared with the economic realities faced by ordinary Nigerians.
The debate has extended to presidential convoys, official vehicles and foreign travels, with supporters of the administration arguing that the President and senior officials should be judged primarily by their policies and performance, while critics insist that government spending should reflect the sacrifices being demanded of citizens.
Adedeji’s comments have consequently generated mixed reactions, with some Nigerians welcoming them as a defence of the President’s personal discipline and others questioning the claims and calling for greater transparency over official expenditure.
The remarks are likely to sustain the wider conversation about the balance between the privileges attached to public office and the need for prudence, accountability and sensitivity to the economic challenges confronting Nigerians.
