Nigeria Revenue Service Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, has said President Bola Tinubu does not live extravagantly, claiming that the President walks from his residence to his office and eats only once a day.
Adedeji made the statement during an interview with Channels Television on Sunday while responding to questions from journalist Seun Okinbaloye about the lifestyles of political office holders amid the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
The NRS chairman said Tinubu’s movements and daily routine do not support claims that the President lives a lavish lifestyle. He claimed that Tinubu usually walks to his office and only uses a vehicle when travelling to the airport.
“Mr President goes from home to office on foot, not even driving except when he is going to the airport,” Adedeji said.
He also claimed that Tinubu had not travelled outside Nigeria in the previous three months, saying the President had remained focused on official duties.
“If you go there now, you will see him review one document or the other,” Adedeji said.
The NRS chairman was also asked about reports concerning the number of Cadillac Escalades attached to Tinubu’s convoy. Adedeji questioned why the use of such vehicles should be regarded as evidence of excessive spending, arguing that the President could afford them.
“How much is an Escalade that the president of Nigeria cannot afford? Please don’t embarrass this country,” he said.
Adedeji further defended Tinubu’s personal lifestyle by claiming that the President eats only once a day and rarely attends social events.
“What is living large? The president eats once in a day. How many parties have you seen him at in the last three years?” he asked.
The comments come amid continued public debate over the cost of governance and the lifestyles of political office holders, particularly as Nigerians contend with rising living costs and economic pressures.
Adedeji’s remarks were made while discussing whether the lifestyle of senior public officials reflects the economic realities facing ordinary Nigerians.
Bola Tinubu’s motorcade indicate varying sizes ranging between 60 to over 120 vehicles during different trips and public visits, drawing public and media scrutiny.
In June 2024, SaharaReporters reported that no fewer than 82 vehicles were in President Tinubu’s convoy during one of his visits to Lagos, as seen in a viral video.
The vehicles comprised SUVs, pick-ups, vans, cars, and motorbikes.
The viral one-minute 30-second video showed the road had been closed to other users as only the President’s convoy was seen.
Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Comrade Omoyele Sowore, who posted the video on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, criticised President Tinubu for using such a large number of vehicles in his convoy while urging citizens to endure the current economic hardship.
“This is the unending petro-gas-guzzling convoy of Tinubu @officialABAT during one of his trips to Lagos. Do these people act like Nigeria can’t feed its poor?” Sowore asked.
“Look at the life they live. They tell the population to endure untold and inhumane hardship while they live large at the expense of people experiencing life-threatening poverty! #RevolutionNow”.
Social media tallies and video reports cite counts ranging from 60, 82, 106, up to 120+ vehicles during specific travels, such as visits to Lagos, Kaduna, and Bayelsa.
The motorcade typically includes security cars, SUVs, luxury buses, an ambulance, and accompanying vehicles from state officials, political associates, and security agencies.
The presidency has previously noted that not every vehicle in the procession belongs strictly to the office of the president, as local service chiefs, state governors, and government officials routinely join official movements.
