Kaduna to spend over N13bn to purchase luxury vehicles, amid soaring debts, developmental deficits
By Aminu Abubakar
The Kaduna State Government is under intense public scrutiny following revelations of extravagant spending on luxury vehicles totalling over N13.2 billion, even as the state grapples with rising external debt and worsening living conditions for millions of its residents.
Documents from the state’s procurement disclosures reveal the acquisition of 36 Toyota XLE vehicles at a cost of N3.8 billion, 22 Toyota Prado SUVs costing N3.718 billion, and 20 Toyota Land Cruisers priced at N5.753 billion.
This expenditure, which comes at a time of significant fiscal strain, has sparked outrage among civil society organisations, policy analysts, and concerned citizens, who question the state’s spending priorities amid deepening poverty and infrastructural neglect.
Soaring Debt Amid Fragile Infrastructure
SolaceBase reports that the controversy is further fueled by Kaduna’s Q1 2025 Budget Performance Report, which shows the state borrowed N41.3 billion in just the first quarter of the year. All of this funding was sourced from international lenders, raising concerns about Kaduna’s increasing vulnerability to external economic shocks.
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According to the report, N26.9 billion was sourced from international financial institutions, N7.4 billion from foreign governments, and N6.9 billion from international capital markets.
This borrowing spree has amplified worries over the state’s debt sustainability. As of December 2024, Kaduna topped the regional debt chart with $625 million in external obligations, based on data from the Debt Management Office (DMO). Economists warn that continued dependence on foreign credit, especially without clear revenue-generating projects, could lead to long-term financial instability.
Development Indicators Paint Grim Picture
Beyond fiscal concerns, the state faces a host of social and economic challenges that remain largely unaddressed. Recent development indicators show: 29 percent of school-aged children are out of school, 73 percent of households lack access to basic sanitary facilities, and 64 percent of homes do not have access to clean drinking water.
These statistics highlight the stark reality faced by many in Kaduna and raise questions about the government’s commitment to improving human development indices.
In October 2024, the Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Development Agency reported one death out of 86 suspected cholera cases. The Director of Public Health, Hamza Ibrahim-Ikara, disclosed this information in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), highlighting the ongoing threat posed by inadequate water supply and poor sanitation.
Kaduna has a history of cholera outbreaks. In 2021, the then-Commissioner of Health, Dr. Amina Muhammed-Baloni, revealed that 175 people had died from cholera across the state’s 23 local government areas. The recurrence of such outbreaks underscores the urgent need for improved water infrastructure and sanitation facilities.
In the 2025 fiscal year, only N2.9 billion is earmarked for the construction/provision of water facilities in the state.
Public Outcry and Calls for Accountability
The spending revelations have sparked reactions from across the political and civil spectrum. Advocacy groups have called for increased transparency in state procurement processes and a reorientation of government priorities toward critical sectors such as education, healthcare, water, and sanitation.
Economists have also argued that “the government must urgently redirect resources to sectors that directly improve lives.”
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Opposition parties have also seized the moment, calling for legislative investigations into the vehicle procurement and overall budgetary implementation.
Government Response Awaited
In the meantime, many Kaduna residents are left grappling with an uneasy question: Can a state afford luxury when its people lack the basics?
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