Kebbi State to splash N13bn on VIP lodge, MDA CEOs vehicles in 2026
By Aminu Abubakar
A SolaceBase review of the Kebbi State proposed budget document for the 2026 fiscal year has shown that a sum of N5 billion is planned for the purchase of vehicles for Chief Executive Officers of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across the state.
Already, N2 billion was budgeted for the same in the 2025 fiscal year, with N572 million already spent between January and September 2025.
Another N7 billion is planned for ‘VIP Lodge’ in the 2026 fiscal year, according to the 2026 budget proposal.
This planned expenditure comes amid growing concerns over the state’s social infrastructure deficits, particularly in education, health, water access, and sanitation.
The development is even as a sum of N2 billion is earmarked for the rehabilitation of the state’s liaison offices in Abuja, raising questions about the government’s spending priorities at a time of limited resources.
The budget further reveals that the state intends to spend N300 million on the purchase of thirty sets of office furniture, meaning that each set will on average cost N30 million. Critics argue that such allocations appear excessive when compared with funding for critical public services that directly affect the well-being of residents.
Additionally, the Kebbi State Governor’s Office plans to spend N4.6 billion on local travel during the 2026 fiscal year.
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This allocation has drawn particular scrutiny given its size relative to investments in essential sectors. An earlier review showed that the Kebbi Governor’s N4.6 billion Travel Budget Could Provide Ninety-Two Solar Boreholes and bridge the Clean Water Gap. It further noted that 50% of Kebbi Governor’s N4.6 billion Travel Budget Can Provide 41 Solar Boreholes, Bridge Clean Water Absence Gap.
Notably, the same amount was approved for the state governor in the 2025 fiscal year, indicating a recurring pattern of high expenditure on travel despite persistent developmental challenges across the state.
Meanwhile, 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, with six schools 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 State. In contrast, ₦732 million is designated for foodstuffs and catering materials in the governor’s office—an amount that exceeds the combined budgets for school furniture and laboratory equipment. Observers say this stark contrast underscores a governance approach that appears to place administrative comfort above educational development.
In terms of water infrastructure, the 2025 budget allocates ₦250 million for the construction and installation of five solar-powered boreholes, translating to an average of ₦50 million per borehole. Based on this cost benchmark, the ₦4.611 billion planned for the governor’s local travel could fund 92 solar boreholes, significantly expanding access to clean water in underserved rural communities.
It could also mean that if Kebbi State governor’s travel budget stood at N2.3 billion, the remaining N2.3 billion required to complete the N4.6 billion allocation would have provided 41 solar boreholes. Such an intervention could have bridged water access gaps in several local government areas where residents rely on unsafe water sources.
Additionally, ₦200.8 million was allocated for the construction of four industrial-grade boreholes, further highlighting the opportunity cost of the travel budget. Using the same cost parameters, the ₦4.611 billion could construct nearly 92 industrial or solar boreholes—a critical need in a state where water scarcity continues to fuel disease outbreaks.
The disparity in funding extends to the health sector. Only ₦1.053 billion was approved for operations and maintenance at the Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, while ₦1.052 billion was allocated to the College of Nursing Sciences, both of which play vital roles in healthcare delivery and medical training. In stark contrast, general hospitals across the state received just ₦220 million, raising concerns about the government’s capacity to address widespread healthcare needs.
These spending decisions are particularly alarming when viewed against recent data and public health emergencies. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 79% of households in Kebbi lack access to sanitary facilities, 68% lack access to clean drinking water, and 45% of children are out of school. In November 2024, at least 24 people died following a cholera outbreak that affected 10 local government areas, with 875 cases officially recorded.
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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, highlighting the urgent need for preventive public health investments.
Worryingly, the state also reported 11 cholera cases between the first and ninth week of 2025, indicating that the crisis is ongoing and that underlying structural issues remain unresolved.
These figures paraded by the Kebbi State government are despite its paucity of resources. For instance, in 2024, Kebbi projected N18 billion as internally generated revenue but managed to raise only N7 billion—less than half of its target. This recurring shortfall underscores deep-seated weaknesses in revenue generation and raises questions about the realism of subsequent projections.
Already, between January and September 2025, only N14.1 billion was generated as internally generated revenue. At the same time, the state’s heavy reliance on loans continues to exert pressure on public finances.
In 2024, between January and September, the state spent N3.4 billion on debt servicing. This means that out of the N7.8 billion generated internally during the same period, 43.5% was consumed by debt repayment. Between January and September 2025, an additional N2.2 billion was spent on debt servicing.
Poverty indicators paint a grim picture. According to the National Bureau of Statistics 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index, Kebbi State has 1.91 million people living in poverty, a reality that further intensifies scrutiny of spending choices that appear misaligned with citizens’ most urgent needs.
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