The Kogi State government has allocated a whopping ₦3 billion for the remodeling of the Government House in its 2025 budget, surpassing the ₦2.2 billion spent on the same project in 2024. Meanwhile, only ₦350 million has been set aside for the construction and rehabilitation of schools and hospitals.
Governor Usman Ododo’s administration also plans to spend ₦200 million on renovating and furnishing the Deputy Governor’s Lodge and another ₦200 million on rehabilitating and furnishing the Deputy Governor’s Office.
This is despite similar upgrades costing half the amount in 2024, with ₦100 million spent on the Deputy Governor’s Lodge and another ₦100 million on the Deputy Governor’s Office.
The 2025 budget also includes ₦15 million for a generator house at the Deputy Governor’s Office. In contrast, only ₦350 million has been earmarked as the state’s contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which cover the construction and rehabilitation of schools, clinics, and other essential public infrastructure.
The budget also allots ₦200 million for drilling boreholes across local government areas, despite statistics showing that 61% of households in Kogi lack access to clean drinking water and 87% lack adequate sanitary facilities.
This allocation of resources has raised concerns about the government’s spending priorities, with critics questioning the emphasis on luxury projects over critical public services. Interestingly, Kogi State recently secured $500 million in World Bank funding for healthcare and education.