By Aminu Abubakar
A review of Kebbi State’s approved 2025 budget document by SolaceBase has revealed that the state government has earmarked N2 billion for the purchase of vehicles for Chief Executive Officers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), sparking debate over the state’s fiscal priorities amid widespread poverty and low revenue generation.
Between January and June 2025 alone, the state government had already spent N572 million on vehicles for the heads of MDAs. This level of spending on administrative comforts has raised concerns, especially when placed side by side with the state’s weak revenue base and urgent developmental needs.
Heavy Reliance on Federal Allocation
Figures from the budget review show that Kebbi generated only N9.3 billion in internally generated revenue (IGR) in the first half of 2025. Despite projecting a total IGR of N25 billion for the year, this amount represents a mere 4.31% of the total proposed budget.
This means that if Kebbi State were to depend solely on its internally generated revenue, it would only be able to implement just over 4% of its budget, leaving more than 95% of its expenditures unfunded. The state, therefore, continues to depend heavily on revenue allocations from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).
Past performance further highlights the challenge. In 2024, Kebbi projected N18 billion as internally generated revenue but managed to raise only N7 billion—less than half of its target. The recurring shortfall underscores a structural weakness in revenue generation, raising questions about the realism of the 2025 projections.
Poverty Indicators Paint a Grim Picture
The spending priorities of the state government come against the backdrop of deep poverty and infrastructure deficits. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index, Kebbi has 1.91 million people living in poverty.
The report revealed that 45% of children in the state are deprived of school attendance, while an alarming 79% of households lack access to sanitary facilities. In addition, 68% of Kebbi residents are denied access to clean drinking water, compounding public health risks in the state.
These statistics are not just numbers; they reflect the day-to-day struggles of millions of Kebbi residents. In November 2024, the state suffered a cholera outbreak that was directly linked to poor water and sanitation conditions. Public health experts have consistently warned that without urgent investment in water supply and sanitation infrastructure, the state risks recurring outbreaks and worsening health outcomes.
Skewed Budgetary Priorities
A closer look at Kebbi’s 2025 budget breakdown reveals troubling priorities. The state allocated N11 billion to local travel and transport for the fiscal year— even as it plans to spend five times more on vehicle purchases. Yet, when compared with the spending on critical sectors, the imbalance becomes stark.
The Ministry of Water Resources, which is central to addressing the state’s drinking water crisis, was allocated N9.8 billion for 2025. However, between January and June, only N284 million was actually released and spent.
Similarly, the state’s Primary Healthcare Development Agency, responsible for coordinating grassroots health interventions, received just N388.4 million in the first six months of the year. This means Kebbi spent more on procuring vehicles for bureaucrats than it invested in primary healthcare for its citizens.
The comparison is jarring: while ministries handling essential services such as water supply and healthcare are underfunded, vehicle purchases for public officials continue to receive significant attention and funding.
Governance and Accountability Questions
The emphasis on vehicle procurement raises questions of accountability and the government’s understanding of priorities in a state struggling with poverty, disease outbreaks, and limited educational opportunities. Critics argue that while vehicles may be necessary for government operations, allocating billions of naira to them when social services are underfunded sends the wrong message to citizens.
Civil society organizations have previously called on state governments to prioritize spending on human development indicators such as education, healthcare, and water supply. In Kebbi’s case, the gap between what is budgeted and what is actually released for these sectors is a cause for concern.
The revelation that Kebbi State plans to spend N2 billion on vehicles for MDA Chief Executives, despite generating only N9.3 billion in IGR in the first half of 2025, underscores the disconnect between government spending and the needs of the people.
With nearly two million residents living in poverty, high rates of child deprivation in education, and widespread lack of access to water and sanitation, critics argue that the government’s focus should be on tackling poverty and improving basic services rather than procuring vehicles.
Over time, experts have argued that unless Nigerian States, including Kebbi, urgently reassess their budgetary priorities and strengthen its revenue generation capacity, it risk deepening poverty and underdevelopment while spending heavily on non-essential items. For citizens already struggling with poor infrastructure and public health crises, such fiscal choices offer little solace.
Comments are closed.