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US Criticizes Nigerian Governors for Spending Lavishly Despite Hardship
The United States Embassy in Nigeria has raised concerns over the reckless spending habits of several Nigerian governors, accusing them of splurging public funds on luxury projects while citizens battle economic hardship.
On Tuesday, the embassy shared a report highlighting how some state leaders are spending billions on renovating or building lavish government residences and offices, despite the widespread suffering caused by current economic policies.
The report pointed out that while President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to make sacrifices and endure the economic challenges, many governors appear to be doing the opposite.
One example cited was Oyo State, where Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration approved a massive N63.4 billion to renovate the Government House, calling the current structure “an embarrassment.”
In Gombe State, among the poorest in the country, Governor Inuwa Yahaya is spending N14.9 billion on a brand-new official residence, with an additional N14.23 billion going toward a new House of Assembly complex.
Sharing the report via its official X (formerly Twitter) page, the US embassy included remarks from groups advocating for transparency and accountability, noting that this kind of excessive spending undermines public trust and deepens inequality.
TV anchor Rufai Oseni makes headlines as he speaks on fuel subsidy in Nigeria. He shared that Nigeria can have fuel subsidy without the long queues at filling stations.
“When we were still paying subsidies, there were no long queues. We were subsidising. So you can still have a subsidy regime going on, and there will be no long queues because production was close by. Dangote had it. That’s just it. That argument also falls flat.
“The biggest beneficiaries of subsidy are not Nigerians. They are crony capitalists that have big infrastructure, and they do contracts. They have been the biggest beneficiaries of the subsidy,” he said.
Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu, speaks to those in the electricity sector about the usual blackouts in the state.
He speaks on ways things can change in the state and how electricity can be provided.
“We need to drop corporate egos, abandon long-standing excuses, and confront the harsh realities obstructing progress in the power sector.”
“We, state governments, used to give excuses that everything is centralised, so the Federal Government has unbundled it now. What have we done in a year and a half?” Sanwo-Olu asked.
“We take two steps forward, we go five steps backward,” he said.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared Thursday, August 20, a work-free day for public servants in the state to mark the Isese Festival.
Speaking on the celebration, he said “Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” he said.
He added “When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” Aregbe said.
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