At least 12 states have earmarked about N102bn in their 2025 budgets for upgrading official lodges and offices as well as acquisition of new Sport Utility Vehicles and other automobiles, according to findings by The  PUNCH

The funds cover modernisation and tech upgrades of government lodges and VIP suites, alongside acquisition of vehicle fleets dominated by Toyota Prado SUVs, Jeep models, Hilux pickups, Camry, Corolla sedans, and other brands.

These allocations are captured under the capital expenditure details in the first-quarter budget performance reports of the states, accessed via their websites.

The affected states are Lagos, Adamawa, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Ondo, Taraba, and Yobe.

Lagos topped the list, setting aside about N33bn for vehicle procurement and lodge upgrades.

Of this, N20.67bn went into acquiring backup vehicles for the state’s lawmakers.

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.

Delta followed with a total of N14.91bn for vehicles and lodge-related projects.

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A sum of N11.23bn went into procuring 50 Toyota SUVs, and 210 other vehicles for the Government House.

Additional vehicle votes included N451.91m for 10 official cars (assembly staff), N100m for vehicles under the SSG/ad-hoc bodies, N200m for 10 SUVs and five corollas for former governors and a former deputy, and N200m for five Hilux pickups.

The N2.73bn earmarked for lodge-renovation works was distributed across various locations.

In Asaba, N1.5bn was set aside for government quarters, N250m for Government House maintenance, N250m for office rehabilitation, N100m for the deputy governor’s lodge, and N100m for the former Speaker’s quarters.

A total of N205m was allocated for renovating the governor and deputy governor’s lodge and guest houses in Abuja.

This is as N100m was also budgeted for the state’s lodges in Warri and Lagos, while VIP guest house upkeep across unspecified locations received N220.18m.

Taraba allocated N9.57bn for executive lodge upgrade. In Jalingo, N2.4bn went into renovating the Government House and lodges, N700m for Twin Hall Lodge, and N100m for the Presidential Lodge Annex.

The deputy governor’s office and guest house got N1.17bn for construction and furnishing, while N3bn was set aside for the state’s lodges in Kakara, Wukari, Gembu, Serti, Takum, and Donga areas of the state.

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Additional provisions included N800m for lodge 77 in Yola, N300m for the Taraba Motel VIP lodge, N400m for general upgrades, and N650m for renovating and furnishing the head of service’s guest house.

Similarly, Borno State budgeted N7.75bn, with N6.92bn going to vehicle procurement in which N5.4bn went to the Ministry of Finance for 50 vehicles, including Volkswagen wagons.

Other allocations included N1bn for two golf cars (Internal Security), N200m for one hilux and two corollas (Local Government), N100m for three hilux (health), N80m for five hilux (community development), N100m for five vans (information), and N35m for five hilux under the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement.

Lodge-related works totaled N830.5m: N30.5m for constructing two new lodges, N200m for repairs on 20 office buildings, N100m for the assembly guest house, and N500m for 60 staff quarters within the Government House.

In Ondo State, N7.51bn, including N3.95bn for lawmakers’ vehicles was budgeted. Of this, N245m covered three jeeps for the speaker, deputy speaker, and majority leader; N2.16bn for 27 Toyota Fortuner SUVs; N1.04bn for 13 corollas; N425m for five hilux pickups; and N80m for a Tacoma hilux.

For the executive, N2bn was earmarked for an armoured vehicle, a prado, and a GAC, while a Prado SUV for the commissioner for finance got N230m.

Lodge-related projects took N1.33bn, comprising N480m for lawmakers’ quarters, N600m for office and lodge renovations, and N253m for fumigation and pest control.

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Adamawa State allocated N6.46bn for lodge upgrades and vehicle procurement, with N2.9bn going to procurement of 42 SUVs.

The state also earmarked a total of N3.56bn for the renovations and furnishings of the governor and deputy governor’s lodges, as well as SSG’s guest houses in Yola and Abuja.

Kebbi State allocated N5.66bn, with N2.36bn going to vehicles for the state house of assembly, while liaison office upgrades in Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, and Sokoto took a total of N3.3bn.

Ekiti State earmarked N5.16bn for vehicles and executive residences with N2.36bn for renovating the government lodges and guest houses in Ado Ekiti, Oke-Ayoba and other areas.

While N25m went for the presidential lodge, N1.8bn was voted for the governor and deputy governor’s lodges in Asokoro, Abuja.

The state also set aside N3bn for vehicle procurement, including N1.5bn for eight Prado Jeeps and 20 JAC SUVs (for political appointees), and a total of N800m for 52 other vehicles for the state assembly and Permanent Secretaries.

Cross River State allocated N4.52bn for lodge projects and vehicles with N1.5bn being voted for renovating and furnishing the Governor and Deputy Governor’s lodges as well as other charlets across the state.

Other allocations include N900m for the state’s Presidential Lodge Annex in Calabar, while N1.05bn was set for upkeep of general lodges and the state liaison offices in Abuja and Lagos.

The state also earmarked N173.5m for legislative housing upgrade, and N1.39bn for procuring 28 Toyota Prado SUVs for its House of Assembly members.

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Among the low spenders is Jigawa State, which budgeted N3.39bn for vehicles and lodge upgrades. Of this, N300m went for the state guest house renovations, N100m each for furnishing the Governor’s residence and office, N300m for the presidential wing, while N1bn was set aside for four Hilux pickups.

A total of N355m was also voted for renovating the Deputy Governor’s lodge, SSG’s guest house in Dutse and other liaison lodges in Kano and Kaduna.

Vehicles took N1.14bn, including N150m for two Jeeps (Accountant General and Permanent Secretary), N200m for a Prado Jeep and two cars (Speaker and the Deputy), N100m for six vehicles (Assembly leaders), and a total of N689m for other vehicles across the ministries.

Yobe State voted N2.91bn, including N2.18bn for 30 Hilux pickups and two Camry cars for judges and Khadis, and N87.5m for two Hilux vehicles for the Fiscal Responsibility Board.

Lodge upgrades included N500m for renovating the Emir’s Lodge and installing a fuel pump, and N140m for upgrading the State Hotel chalets in Damaturu.

Imo State also earmarked N1.45bn for vehicles and official residence upgrades. Renovation votes included N150m for the Governor’s Lodge (Owerri), N100m for the Deputy Governor’s lodge, N150m for his office, N50m for the Lagos lodge, N80m for Gwarimpa staff quarters, N30m for House 24 in the Government House, N100m for Heroes Square, and N20m for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker’s lodges.

Vehicles took N770m, covering N250m for 15 Prado Jeeps for judges, N300m for 43 Hilux pickups for judicial officers, N120m for the Chief Judge’s vehicle, and N100m for a car under Tertiary and Technical Education ministry.

However, the capital expenditure details of the remaining 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory could not be obtained, as they were not disclosed in their respective budget performance reports.
(PUNCH)