The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo for allegedly spending over N3.5 billion on international trips and training within just three months, without securing any form of foreign direct investment (FDI) for the state.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Chris Osa Nehikhare, Publicity Secretary of the PDP Caretaker Committee in Edo, described the expenditures as reckless and shameful.
Citing the Capital Importation Report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on August 5, 2025, the party noted that Edo was among 30 Nigerian states that collectively spent N11.75 billion on foreign trips during the first quarter of the year yet failed to attract any FDI.
According to the NBS report, only seven regions, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Kano and Ekiti attracted foreign investment between January and March 2025.
“The FDI that came into the country between January and March went to only seven locations (the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Kano and Ekiti),” the report stated.
The Bureau pegged Edo’s share of the expenditure at ₦349,323,686.03 and $227,918.57.
In its strongly worded statement titled “Stop the Jamboree: Edo Government’s Reckless N3.51 Billion Travel Spree Amidst Crumbling Infrastructure is Shameful”, PDP expressed outrage that the Okpebholo-led government prioritised foreign travel over addressing dire developmental needs.
“The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Edo State Chapter, is outraged by the disgraceful revelation that the Senator Monday Okpebholo-led administration squandered an alarming N3.51 billion on travel in just the first half of 2025,” the statement read.
“This waste comes at a time when the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Capital Importation Report confirms that Edo State failed to attract a single kobo in foreign investment while states like Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Kaduna, Kano, and even Ekiti made the list.”
“The contrast is both embarrassing and telling. Other states are opening their doors to the capital, Edo’s leaders are opening their wallets for endless trips.”
PDP further described the travel expenditures as “an insult” to Edo citizens, who continue to struggle with poor roads, inadequate healthcare, crumbling schools, irregular salary payments, and unreliable power supply.
“This reckless expenditure is an insult to the good people of Edo State who continue to endure poor roads, inadequate healthcare facilities, decaying schools, delays in salary payments and epileptic power supply.”
“It is unacceptable that while other states are working to attract investment, Edo’s leadership is squandering scarce resources on trips that yield no tangible benefits.”
“Governance is not a jamboree. Leadership demands prudence, vision, and a commitment to prioritising the needs of the people over frivolous indulgences.”
“Edo State deserves a government focused on creating jobs, improving infrastructure, and enhancing the quality of life of its citizenscitizens, not one obsessed with globetrotting at public expense.”
The PDP called on the state government to immediately stop the “wasteful” spending, publish details of all international trips, and redirect such funds to urgently needed infrastructure development across Edo.
