50% of Kebbi Gov’s N4.6 bn travel budget can provide 41 solar boreholes, bridge clean water absence gap
By Aminu Abubakar
A SolaceBase review of the 2025 budget for Kebbi State has raised significant concerns over the state’s spending priorities, especially regarding allocations made to the Office of the Governor.
According to the budget breakdown, a staggering ₦4.611 billion was approved for “local travel and transport” for the Governor’s Office alone.
This figure stands out sharply when compared to the relatively modest allocations made to critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and water infrastructure across the state.
For example, only ₦2.382 billion was earmarked for the renovation of secondary schools throughout the state—barely half of the amount designated for the governor’s local travel.
Furthermore, a mere ₦187 million was set aside for the purchase of laboratory equipment for 16 newly established secondary schools (six per senatorial zone). Similarly, ₦1.075 billion was budgeted for the renovation of primary schools, which is approximately one-fourth of the travel allocation.
Even more concerning is that ₦473 million was allocated for the supply of furniture to all Junior Secondary Schools in Kebbi. Meanwhile, ₦732 million is designated for foodstuffs and catering materials in the governor’s office—more than the budget for school furniture and laboratory equipment combined.
In terms of water infrastructure, the 2025 budget allocates ₦250 million for the construction and installation of five solar-powered boreholes. This translates to an average of ₦50 million per borehole. Based on this cost, the ₦4.611 billion planned for the governor’s local travel could fund 92 solar boreholes, which would significantly expand access to clean water in underserved rural areas.
It could also mean that if Kebbi State governor’s travel budget stood at N2.3 billion, the remaining N2.3 billion to complete N4.6 billion actually budgeted would have provided 41 solar boreholes.
Additionally, ₦200.8 million was allocated for the construction of four industrial-grade boreholes, further emphasizing the scale of the opportunity cost. The same ₦4.611 billion could construct nearly 92 industrial or solar boreholes—a critical need in a state where clean water scarcity contributes to disease outbreaks.
The disparity in funding extends to the health sector as well. Only ₦1.053 billion was approved for operations and maintenance at the Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, and ₦1.052 billion for the College of Nursing Sciences, both vital institutions for public health and medical training. In stark contrast, just ₦220 million was allocated to general hospitals across the state.
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These spending decisions are particularly alarming in light of recent data and health emergencies. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 79% of households in Kebbi lack access to sanitary facilities, and 45% of children are out of school, also 68% of households lack access to clean drinking water.
In November 2024, at least 24 people died following a cholera outbreak that affected 10 local government areas, with 875 cases officially recorded.
The Director of Public Health, Dr. Abubakar Bagudu Muhammad, attributed the outbreak to poor sanitation, lack of clean water, flooding, and open defecation. He revealed that 13 of the 24 deaths occurred in Suru Local Government Area, underscoring the urgent need for improved public health infrastructure and preventive measures.
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Worryingly, the state also reported 11 cholera cases between the first and ninth week of 2025, signaling that the crisis is ongoing.
Observers argue that the vast resources directed toward local travels by the governor’s office could have been better deployed to address the state’s glaring deficits in education, water supply, and healthcare. With the majority of the population grappling with poverty, disease outbreaks, and a failing education system, the Kebbi State government’s budget priorities have come under sharp scrutiny from civil society groups and development advocates.
As residents contend with dire living conditions, many are calling for a more equitable and needs-based approach to public spending—one that prioritizes essential services over luxury and administrative comfort.
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