Education, Medical Tourism Push Nigerians’ Foreign Travel Spending to $6bn

Foreign travel spending by Nigerians rose to almost $6 billion in 2025 as more citizens travelled abroad for education, healthcare, business and tourism-related activities.

According to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, total foreign travel expenditure reached $5.996 billion last year, representing a 32 per cent increase from the $4.544 billion recorded in 2024.

The figures show that spending was strongest during the first three quarters of the year before moderating towards the end of 2025.

Industry stakeholders say the trend highlights long-standing structural challenges in Nigeria’s education, healthcare and tourism sectors, which continue to drive demand for foreign services.

Overseas Education Leads Spending

Education remained the largest contributor to foreign travel expenditure.

Nigerians spent $2.845 billion on overseas education-related travel in 2025, compared with $2.484 billion in 2024.

The amount rose steadily through the first three quarters before falling in the final quarter of the year.

International Business Travel Surges

Business-related travel recorded the most dramatic increase.

Spending jumped nearly 200 per cent in the first quarter and continued to accelerate throughout the year, with third-quarter expenditure soaring by 924 per cent year-on-year.

Analysts attribute the trend to increased international commercial activities and cross-border engagements by Nigerian businesses.

Medical Tourism Remains Strong

Medical travel spending increased to $684.72 million from $643.15 million in 2024.

Despite a slowdown in the final quarter, expenditure on overseas healthcare services remained significantly above previous levels, underscoring continued concerns about healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

Personal travel spending also remained elevated, rising 31.3 per cent to $1.62 billion during the year.

Calls for Urgent Reforms

Commenting on the development, Zenith Travels and Consult Ltd’s Director of Research, Olumide Ohunayo, said foreign carriers remained the biggest beneficiaries of the spending surge.

“The major beneficiaries of the increased foreign travel are the foreign airlines,” he said.

He argued that Nigeria could retain more value within the economy by developing stronger domestic airlines and improving international route capacity.

Ohunayo also linked the rise in overseas education spending to declining confidence in local institutions, saying many schools now charge fees comparable to those abroad.

“Most of the institutions are just out to make money rather than providing educational services,” he stated.

Belujane Konzult CEO Chris Aligbe said weaknesses in both the education and healthcare sectors were contributing significantly to foreign exchange outflows.

“People no longer rely on what we produce from that sector. Standards are now being questioned,” he said of Nigeria’s education system.

On healthcare, he added: “Our health system has dropped as well. Doctors are leaving because the pay is quite low.”

Both experts agreed that investments in infrastructure, electricity, security, healthcare, tourism and aviation are critical if Nigeria is to reduce its dependence on foreign services and curb rising foreign travel expenditure.

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