Nigeria: Buhari slashes Presidential Convoy for local and foreign trips

President Buhari has in a memo circlated in the Presidential Villa on Monday slashed the number of aides and journalists that would accompany him on both foreign and local trips.

The president had two weeks ago requested the National Assembly to authorise him to appoint 15 advisers, as against 18 advisers maintained by his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan.

Ex President Jonathan is renowned for travelling with a large retinue of aides, journalists and hangers-on for international events.

“The security may have between three and four slots, rotated between the old and new officers, there may be other slots for the senior security officers, but I know the media has two slots for journalists and two for media officers (those who carry the podium and the information officer).” an official at the Presidential Villa in Aso Rock says.

Mr. Buhari, who on Monday officially assumed work at the Presidential Villa, about three weeks after his inauguration, had promised to run a lean government. He initially operated from the Defence House, Abuja.