The proposed plan by the Presidency to use N7bn to renovate President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kassim Shettima’s official residences in Lagos and N1.5bn to purchase official vehicles for the First Lady’s Office has sparked outrage among Nigerians.
The expenses are said to be funded from the N2.176trn supplementary budget passed for second reading by the National Assembly.
This is coming at a time when Nigerians are already experiencing hardship due to the removal of petrol subsidy, foreign exchange unification, and rising inflation that has led to an increase in food prices.
Nigerians have also criticized the procurement of Prado SUVs valued at N160m for each of the 469 members of the National Assembly.
It is worth noting that the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari had spent N37bn between 2016 and 2020 to keep Aso Villa in good condition.
Additionally, N11.04bn was budgeted for its refurbishment in 2021 alone, in addition to the over N25bn reportedly spent on electricity and plumbing in Aso Rock.
The proposed expenditure for the renovation of Tinubu and Shettima’s residences and the purchase of official cars for the First Lady’s Office is part of the N28 billion budgeted for the State House in the 2023 supplementary budget. Other items for the State House include the purchase of SUV vehicles at N2.9 billion and the replacement of operational pool vehicles at N2.9 billion.
The renovation of Aguda House would gulp N2.5bn; computerization and digitalization of the State House was allocated N200m, while N4bn was budgeted for the construction of an office complex in the State House.
The acquisition, renovation, and rehabilitation of two EFCC forfeited quarters at the State House Complex at Mabushi area of Abuja is to gulp N1.5bn, and another N1.5bn for acquisition, renovation, and rehabilitation of two EFCC forfeited quarters as the State House Complex at Guzape area of Abuja.
