N1 Billion perimeter fence project overshadows educational needs at Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy
By Aminu Abubakar
A SolaceBase review of the 2025 Bauchi State budget has revealed that the government plans to spend a whopping N1 billion on constructing a perimeter wall fence at the Bauchi State Oil and Gas Academy—a figure that has raised eyebrows, particularly when compared to other critical needs in the state.
In addition to the wall fencing, the state also allocated N550 million for the construction of three blocks of classrooms within the same academy.
These figures are part of the state’s capital expenditure on the newly established institution, which is expected to play a significant role in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
This development comes shortly after the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, officially flagged off the construction of the academy in May 2025.
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During the event, the minister emphasized that the initiative by the Bauchi State Government would significantly enhance the Federal Government’s agenda on human capacity development in the energy sector, particularly in oil and gas exploration, refining, and distribution.
The academy, officially named the Bauchi State Oil and Gas Academy, is said to have submitted nine academic programs for accreditation to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
These programs are expected to cater to skill development and vocational training for the youth, with a focus on building local expertise in the energy value chain.
However, concerns are mounting over the budget’s prioritization. While N1 billion is allocated for wall fencing alone, the construction of a corporate office for the academy is estimated at only N400 million, and a residential building for staff is expected to cost N450 million.
Even more alarming is the disparity in funding between physical structures and actual educational needs. The N1 billion earmarked for fencing is sixty-six times more than the N15 million budgeted for the provision of instructional materials—a critical component for any functional academic institution.
Furthermore, the state has allocated just N35 million for the procurement of library books and equipment, an amount that pales in comparison to the spending on the perimeter fence. Essentially, twenty-eight times more will be spent on fencing than on educational resources.
A deeper review of the state’s 2025 budget reveals that the N1 billion wall fencing project is the single largest capital allocation for the academy. This has sparked debate on the rationale behind such spending, especially given the pressing developmental needs in other sectors.
To put the allocation in perspective, the N1 billion could drill approximately 166 boreholes at a cost of N6 million per unit, according to the state’s own estimates. This would go a long way in addressing the state’s acute water access challenges, particularly in rural communities.
Moreover, the same amount is double the budget allocated for the rehabilitation of primary healthcare centres across Bauchi State—an area that directly impacts maternal and child health, disease control, and public health outcomes.
In the education sector, the budget shows that N20 million has been allocated to construct a block of eight classrooms. By that measure, N1 billion could construct 50 blocks, translating to 400 classrooms—a critical intervention in a state where 54% of children are deprived of education, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
While the Bauchi State Government may justify the fencing as part of its long-term infrastructure plan for the academy, such an expense appears extravagant and misaligned with the state’s immediate developmental priorities.
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Despite not being a major oil-producing state, Bauchi is expected to benefit from renewed activity in the energy sector. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) announced in May that it would commence crude oil drilling at the Kolmani oil field, located on the Bauchi-Gombe border.
This move marks a return to operations at the site after nearly two years of inactivity and underscores the strategic importance of Bauchi in Nigeria’s energy future.
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