At least 12 states have allocated approximately ₦102bn in their 2025 budgets for the renovation of official lodges and offices, as well as the purchase of new Sport Utility Vehicles and other automobiles.
The report noted that the funds would cover the modernisation and technological upgrades of government lodges and VIP suites. It also revealed that the vehicle procurement plans featured fleets dominated by Toyota Prado SUVs, Jeep models, Hilux pickups, Camry and Corolla sedans, among other brands.
It was further gathered that these allocations were outlined in the capital expenditure components of the states’ first-quarter budget performance reports, made available on their respective websites.
The states listed include Lagos, Adamawa, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Ondo, Taraba, and Yobe.
Lagos was said to top the list, having earmarked about N33bn for both vehicle procurement and lodge upgrades. Of this sum, N20.67bn reportedly went into acquiring backup vehicles for members of the state’s House of Assembly.
Another N11.04bn was earmarked for rehabilitating the Assembly Complex, N150m for renovating the speaker’s residence and guest house, while N1.15bn covered upgrades of the state’s lodges in Alausa and Abuja.
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Delta State was reported to have followed closely, allocating a total of N14.91bn for vehicles and lodge-related projects in its 2025 budget.
Breakdowns from the budget showed that N11.23bn was directed toward the procurement of 50 Toyota SUVs and 210 other vehicles designated for the Government House. In addition, it was stated that N451.91m was budgeted for 10 official cars for assembly staff, while N100m was set aside for vehicles under the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and various ad-hoc bodies.
The budget further captured N200m for 10 SUVs and five Corollas earmarked for former governors and a former deputy governor. Another N200m was reportedly allocated for the purchase of five Hilux pickups.
On lodge renovation and related infrastructure, N2.73bn was said to have been earmarked, with the funds spread across different locations. In Asaba, the sum of N1.5bn was set aside for government quarters, N250m for Government House maintenance, N250m for the rehabilitation of offices, N100m for the deputy governor’s lodge, and N100m for the former Speaker’s quarters.
The document also revealed that N205m was allocated for the renovation of the governor and deputy governor’s lodges and guest houses in Abuja. Meanwhile, N100m was earmarked for the state’s lodges in Warri and Lagos respectively, and N220.18m was provided for the upkeep of VIP guest houses at unspecified locations.