June 1, 2026
•Education-related travel gulps $2.84bn
•Foreign airlines dominate travel tickets
•This highlights systemic failures – experts
By Babajide Komolafe, Economy Editor & Dickson Omobola
Education, medical tourism drive foreign travel spending to $6bn
Nigerians spent $5.996 billion on airline tickets for foreign travels in 2025, a 32 per cent rise, year-on-year, YoY, amid increases in education related travels and a surge in international business engagements.
TL;DRAI
Nigeria's foreign travel spend hit $5.996bn in 2025 (+32% YoY), led by education ($2.845bn) and business trips surging 924% in Q3 alone. Foreign airlines capture the bulk of the FX outflow, a proxy for structural deficits in local healthcare and education.
1,583 words~7 min read
