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,
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.
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