HOW TINUBU GOVT PAID N2.1B IN ONE DAY FOR RENOVATION, REHABILITATION OF STATE HOUSE COMPLEX IN ABUJA
Records have revealed that the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government in one day paid the sum of N2,127,681,697.08 for the acquisition, renovation and rehabilitation of four Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) forfeited quarters as the State House complex at Guzape and Mabushi areas of Abuja.
Data obtained from GovSpend.ng, an analytics platform run by BudgIT Foundation to give Nigerians access to information on daily spending at all levels of government in the country, revealed that the Nigerian government paid the money to the State House headquarters transit account.
According to the payment details, the State House Headquarters on May 31, 2024, paid the sum of N1,354,258,408.58 to the State House headquarters transit account for acquisition, renovation and rehabilitation of two numbers of EFCC forfeited quarters as state house complex at Guzape in Abuja.
Also on May 31, 2024, another payment of N773,423,288.50 was made to the State House headquarters transit account for the the acquisition, renovation and rehabilitation of two numbers EFCC forfeited quarters as state house complex at Mabushi.
Experts have described spending such huge amounts of money on acquisition, renovation and rehabilitation of four quarters which were forfeited by an anti-corruption agency of the country as a misplaced priority in a country where over 130 million of its citizens live in multidimensional poverty.
A Nigerian economic expert based in the US, Ekeson Ubaka said that renovating the State House complex in Nigeria had continued to be a contentious issue that had continued to raise several concerns.
Ubaka said “The Nigerian government’s decision to allocate significant funds towards renovating the State House complex amidst pressing national issues such as infrastructure deficits, healthcare challenges, and education shortcomings reflects misplaced priorities.
“These sectors are in dire need of investment to uplift the lives of millions of Nigerians who struggle daily with basic necessities.
“The funds allocated for the renovation could be better utilized to address critical infrastructure needs across the country.
“Nigeria faces crumbling roads, inadequate healthcare facilities, and insufficient educational resources.
“These issues directly impact the majority of the population and should be prioritized over cosmetic enhancements to government buildings.”
He further said “The decision to spend lavishly on government facilities while a significant portion of the population lives below the poverty line exacerbates social inequality.”
According to him, “It sends a message that the government is out of touch with the everyday struggles of its citizens and prioritizes the comfort of the elite over the welfare of the general population.
“Instead of focusing on luxurious renovations, the government could explore more cost-effective solutions or allocate resources to initiatives that directly impact poverty alleviation, job creation, and economic development. “Investments in sectors like agriculture, small business support, and renewable energy could have far-reaching benefits for sustainable development.”