₦airaland Forum

By Imoleayo Oyedeji


At least 12 states have earmarked about N102bn in their 2025 budgets for upgrading official lodges and offices as well as acquisition of new Sport Utility Vehicles and other automobiles, findings by Sunday PUNCH have revealed.

The funds cover modernisation and tech upgrades of government lodges and VIP suites, alongside acquisition of vehicle fleets dominated by Toyota Prado SUVs, Jeep models, Hilux pickups, Camry, Corolla sedans, and other brands.

These allocations are captured under the capital expenditure details in the first-quarter budget performance reports of the states, accessed via their websites.

The affected states are Lagos, Adamawa, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Ondo, Taraba, and Yobe.

Lagos topped the list, setting aside about N33bn for vehicle procurement and lodge upgrades.

Of this, N20.67bn went into acquiring backup vehicles for the state’s lawmakers.

Another N11.04bn was earmarked for rehabilitating the Assembly Complex, N150m for renovating the speaker’s residence and guest house, while N1.15bn covered upgrades of the state’s lodges in Alausa and Abuja.

Delta followed with a total of N14.91bn for vehicles and lodge-related projects.

A sum of N11.23bn went into procuring 50 Toyota SUVs, and 210 other vehicles for the Government House.

Additional vehicle votes included N451.91m for 10 official cars (assembly staff), N100m for vehicles under the SSG/ad-hoc bodies, N200m for 10 SUVs and five corollas for former governors and a former deputy, and N200m for five Hilux pickups.

The N2.73bn earmarked for lodge-renovation works was distributed across various locations.

In Asaba, N1.5bn was set aside for government quarters, N250m for Government House maintenance, N250m for office rehabilitation, N100m for the deputy governor’s lodge, and N100m for the former Speaker’s quarters.

A total of N205m was allocated for renovating the governor and deputy governor’s lodge and guest houses in Abuja.

This is as N100m was also budgeted for the state’s lodges in Warri and Lagos, while VIP guest house upkeep across unspecified locations received N220.18m.

Taraba allocated N9.57bn for executive lodge upgrade. In Jalingo, N2.4bn went into renovating the Government House and lodges, N700m for Twin Hall Lodge, and N100m for the Presidential Lodge Annex.

The deputy governor’s office and guest house got N1.17bn for construction and furnishing, while N3bn was set aside for the state’s lodges in Kakara, Wukari, Gembu, Serti, Takum, and Donga areas of the state.

Additional provisions included N800m for lodge 77 in Yola, N300m for the Taraba Motel VIP lodge, N400m for general upgrades, and N650m for renovating and furnishing the head of service’s guest house.

Similarly, Borno State budgeted N7.75bn, with N6.92bn going to vehicle procurement in which N5.4bn went to the Ministry of Finance for 50 vehicles, including Volkswagen wagons.

Other allocations included N1bn for two golf cars (Internal Security), N200m for one hilux and two corollas (Local Government), N100m for three hilux (health), N80m for five hilux (community development), N100m for five vans (information), and N35m for five hilux under the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement.

Lodge-related works totaled N830.5m: N30.5m for constructing two new lodges, N200m for repairs on 20 office buildings, N100m for the assembly guest house, and N500m for 60 staff quarters within the Government House.

In Ondo State, N7.51bn, including N3.95bn for lawmakers’ vehicles was budgeted. Of this, N245m covered three jeeps for the speaker, deputy speaker, and majority leader; N2.16bn for 27 Toyota Fortuner SUVs; N1.04bn for 13 corollas; N425m for five hilux pickups; and N80m for a Tacoma hilux.

For the executive, N2bn was earmarked for an armoured vehicle, a prado, and a GAC, while a Prado SUV for the commissioner for finance got N230m.

Lodge-related projects took N1.33bn, comprising N480m for lawmakers’ quarters, N600m for office and lodge renovations, and N253m for fumigation and pest control.

Adamawa State allocated N6.46bn for lodge upgrades and vehicle procurement, with N2.9bn going to procurement of 42 SUVs.

The state also earmarked a total of N3.56bn for the renovations and furnishings of the governor and deputy governor’s lodges, as well as SSG’s guest houses in Yola and Abuja.

Kebbi State allocated N5.66bn, with N2.36bn going to vehicles for the state house of assembly, while liaison office upgrades in Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, and Sokoto took a total of N3.3bn.

Ekiti State earmarked N5.16bn for vehicles and executive residences with N2.36bn for renovating the government lodges and guest houses in Ado Ekiti, Oke-Ayoba and other areas.

While N25m went for the presidential lodge, N1.8bn was voted for the governor and deputy governor’s lodges in Asokoro, Abuja.

The state also set aside N3bn for vehicle procurement, including N1.5bn for eight Prado Jeeps and 20 JAC SUVs (for political appointees), and a total of N800m for 52 other vehicles for the state assembly and Permanent Secretaries.

Cross River State allocated N4.52bn for lodge projects and vehicles with N1.5bn being voted for renovating and furnishing the Governor and Deputy Governor’s lodges as well as other charlets across the state.

Other allocations include N900m for the state’s Presidential Lodge Annex in Calabar, while N1.05bn was set for upkeep of general lodges and the state liaison offices in Abuja and Lagos.

The state also earmarked N173.5m for legislative housing upgrade, and N1.39bn for procuring 28 Toyota Prado SUVs for its House of Assembly members.

Among the low spenders is Jigawa State, which budgeted N3.39bn for vehicles and lodge upgrades. Of this, N300m went for the state guest house renovations, N100m each for furnishing the Governor’s residence and office, N300m for the presidential wing, while N1bn was set aside for four Hilux pickups.

A total of N355m was also voted for renovating the Deputy Governor’s lodge, SSG’s guest house in Dutse and other liaison lodges in Kano and Kaduna.

Vehicles took N1.14bn, including N150m for two Jeeps (Accountant General and Permanent Secretary), N200m for a Prado Jeep and two cars (Speaker and the Deputy), N100m for six vehicles (Assembly leaders), and a total of N689m for other vehicles across the ministries.

Yobe State voted N2.91bn, including N2.18bn for 30 Hilux pickups and two Camry cars for judges and Khadis, and N87.5m for two Hilux vehicles for the Fiscal Responsibility Board.

Lodge upgrades included N500m for renovating the Emir’s Lodge and installing a fuel pump, and N140m for upgrading the State Hotel chalets in Damaturu.

Imo State also earmarked N1.45bn for vehicles and official residence upgrades. Renovation votes included N150m for the Governor’s Lodge (Owerri), N100m for the Deputy Governor’s lodge, N150m for his office, N50m for the Lagos lodge, N80m for Gwarimpa staff quarters, N30m for House 24 in the Government House, N100m for Heroes Square, and N20m for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker’s lodges.

Vehicles took N770m, covering N250m for 15 Prado Jeeps for judges, N300m for 43 Hilux pickups for judicial officers, N120m for the Chief Judge’s vehicle, and N100m for a car under Tertiary and Technical Education ministry.

However, the capital expenditure details of the remaining 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory could not be obtained, as they were not disclosed in their respective budget performance reports.

jmoore:
We are still importing rice? I don't even know the name of the minister of Agriculture.

IyaTola:
How the West is Using Killings in Benue to Destroy Nigeria’s Food Supply and Introduce GMO

Deep in the heart of Nigeria lies Benue State, often referred to as the “Food Basket of the Nation.” From yam to cassava, rice to vegetables, Benue has long been the agricultural backbone of the country. But what if the relentless killings in this region weren’t just random acts of violence or farmer-herder clashes? What if they are part of a deliberate, international plot?

Here's the theory:

Step 1: Destabilize the Food Basket
Over the past decade, Benue has witnessed escalating attacks on farmers and rural communities. Entire villages wiped out. Farmlands abandoned. Year after year, the attacks intensify—but strangely, no lasting solution is ever enforced. Why?

Sources suggest that these violent incursions may be orchestrated to systematically wipe out indigenous farming activity, making local food production impossible. If Benue cannot farm, Nigeria will starve—or at least experience severe food shortages.

Step 2: Create a Food Crisis
With Benue in chaos, food prices skyrocket across the nation. Yam becomes gold. Tomatoes become luxury. The masses cry out for relief. The government scrambles. Then—like a well-timed savior—the West steps in.

Western NGOs, biotech corporations, and donor agencies start offering “solutions”:

“We’ll donate seeds.”

“We have high-yield, pest-resistant crops.”

“Our GMO maize and rice can feed 10 times more.”

“We can help you rebuild your agriculture.”

But there's a catch: those seeds are genetically modified, and with them come strings attached.

Step 3: Hook Nigeria on GMOs
Accepting GMO seeds often means:

Dependency on foreign seed companies every planting season.

Loss of native seed sovereignty.

Introduction of patents, where farmers can be sued for saving seeds.

Erosion of local farming knowledge in favor of lab-created agriculture.

Soon, Nigeria becomes hooked on genetically modified food—just like much of the Global South.

Step 4: Control the Food, Control the Nation
If you control a nation’s food supply, you control its people, its policy, and its future. With Nigeria dependent on foreign biotech firms for seeds and food stability, the West gains unprecedented influence over the largest Black nation on earth.

Benue—once the proud heart of Nigeria’s food independence—is turned into a testing ground for lab crops.

Is it coincidence that Benue, of all places, continues to burn while the rest of the world pushes GMO agriculture on Africa? Or is there something deeper—a coordinated economic warfare disguised as humanitarian aid?

Stay woke. Follow the seeds. The truth is buried in the soil.

Ziziwrites1:
Oyo state Government allocated 63.4bn for Governor House Renovation also. All these leaders are marrd! Aswerugod!!

ZombieDredd:
They are not mard.

Believe me

They always laugh in anticipation of the largese at their disposal and the docility of the Nigerian masses.

Didn't akpabio say we should protest while they continue to eat chicken?

Toh!!

Even in this thread you will see God forsaken souls come out to defend them.

Everything is politics and tribalism to them

kuntash:
Where are those justifying almost anything from this government and party called APC .

I will read up to the second thread , and if I don't see any justification, I shall tag some of them

Fuckyoumod:
Nigerians you are all in a mess! Una no know weytin hit una. APC no send una papa!

Just see what's more important to your governments.

That money is a enough to build the very hospital Buhari died in and the one Tinubu visits all the time in London. But no, na SUV's dey important pass hospitals.

This is how they are spending the subsidy money, while you buy fuel at exorbitant prices.

WICKED GOVERNMENT

Islie:
https://punchng.com/12-states-vote-n102bn-for-official-lodge-upgrade-suvs/?amp

Fuckyoumod:
Nigerians you are all in a mess! Una no know weytin hit una. APC no send una papa!

Just see what's more important to your governments.

That money is a enough to build the very hospital Buhari died in and the one Tinubu visits all the time in London. But no, na SUV's dey important pass hospitals.

This is how they are spending the subsidy money, while you buy fuel at exorbitant prices.

WICKED GOVERNMENT

Fuckyoumod:
Nigerians you are all in a mess! Una no know weytin hit una. APC no send una papa!

Just see what's more important to your governments.

That money is a enough to build the very hospital Buhari died in and the one Tinubu visits all the time in London. But no, na SUV's dey important pass hospitals.

This is how they are spending the subsidy money, while you buy fuel at exorbitant prices.

WICKED GOVERNMENT

Islie:
https://punchng.com/12-states-vote-n102bn-for-official-lodge-upgrade-suvs/?amp

chisomkachy:
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s first supplementary budget includes a fleet of SUVs for himself and his wife, a presidential yacht and the renovation of his villa amid a cost-of-living crisis for some of the poorest people in the world.

The proposal — which seeks additional funding beyond the annual budget approved by Tinubu’s predecessor — comes as the government asks Nigerians to persevere through pain caused in part by a raft of economic reforms ushered in by the new president. Africa’s most populous country faces rampant unemployment, soaring food prices and a plummeting currency.

Federal lawmakers approved the president’s request for extra spending on Thursday, but eliminated the provision of 5 billion naira ($6.01 million) to buy a presidential yacht. Instead, they doubled the allocation to a student loan fund to 10 billion naira, according Abubakar Bichi, chairman of an appropriations committee in the House of Representatives.

The lawmakers approved 1.5 billion-naira proposed to purchase SUVs for the office of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu — an amount larger than that allocated to many individual federal colleges. The supplementary budget also proposes almost 6 billion naira to purchase SUVs for the presidency — more than the amount initially allocated to fund a student loan program for poor families.


https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-02/nigeria-budgets-for-suvs-and-yachts-amid-economic-hardship

ZombieTAMER:
This is what Tinubu and APc are about

Politicians swimming in money and opulence while the masses suffer in penury

Omicronvaccine:
Wherever You See Free Food, Eat It - Nigerian Senate President, Senator Akpabio Advises Nigerians


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIdtxSZDQoY