Tinubu Government Allocates N5 Billion For Renovations Of Vice President’s Lagos Residence Amid Economic Challenges.
Amidst Nigeria’s economic hardships and rising inflation, the Federal Government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has reportedly allocated ₦5 billion for the renovation of Vice President Kashim Shettima’s official residence in Lagos. This decision has sparked discussions and drawn criticism from advocacy groups concerned about government spending priorities.
The Federal Government passed a ₦2.17 trillion supplementary budget in November 2023, initially earmarking ₦3 billion for the renovation of the vice president’s Lagos residence and an additional ₦2.5 billion for refurbishments at his official quarters within the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. However, data from GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks government expenditures, reveals that the actual expenditure on the Lagos residence alone has surpassed ₦5 billion as of May and September this year.
A detailed breakdown shows that on 31 May 2024, the State House disbursed ₦2.8 billion to Denderi Investment Limited, an engineering firm, for renovation work at the vice president’s Lagos quarters. Additional payments were made on 5 September 2024 by the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, including ₦726.7 million for further renovations and ₦1.48 billion for Phase 2 of the project.
In response to these expenditures, civil society organisations have raised concerns over the prioritisation of funds amidst economic constraints. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) voiced its disapproval, arguing that such allocations violate Nigeria’s constitutional obligations and international commitments to anti-corruption and human rights. SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare highlighted that approving the ₦15 billion proposal for constructing a “befitting” vice presidential residence in Abuja, as announced last year by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, could further erode public trust.
Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, added that the government’s spending patterns reflect a lack of commitment to reducing the cost of governance, despite promises to address budgetary concerns. Additionally, Debo Adeniran, Chairman of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership, remarked that without reforms in the country’s constitution to enforce transparency in spending, excessive government expenditure will continue.
These discussions highlight the tension between governance spending and the economic needs of the Nigerian public, calling for a reassessment of financial priorities in a challenging economic climate.
