Governor To Splash Over N1Billion On Vehicles For Lawmakers

Governor To Splash Over N1Billion On Vehicles For Lawmakers

Between January and September 2024, the state government spent N1.6 billion on the purchase of 30 SUVs through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

Despite calls for financial prudence, the Akwa Ibom State Government is set to spend N1.020 billion to purchase vehicles for lawmakers, according to details contained in the 2025 budget document.

It was noted that the money would be used to purchase or maintain 26 vehicles for the 26 members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

Meanwhile, a review shows that the constituency development project allocation for the state House of Assembly stood at zero naira for the 2025 fiscal year.

Between January and September 2024, the state government spent N1.6 billion on the purchase of 30 SUVs through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

Aside from this, the state budgeted another N3 billion, also through the Office of the Secretary, for the purchase of 70 saloon cars. Already, N3.6 billion was spent on this purpose between January and September 2024.

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In 2025, the Office of the Secretary to the State Government again budgeted N6 billion for the purchase of various luxury vehicles.

Recently, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, gave luxury SUVs to all former deputy governors in the state.

According to the governor in a post on his official X handle, the SUVs were meant to appreciate “all former deputy governors” for their contributions to the state.

“I presented brand new Land Cruisers to all former Deputy Governors of Akwa Ibom State as a token of appreciation for their years of service and sacrifice,” he wrote on X.

“Their dedication has helped shape our State’s progress, and it’s only fitting they enjoy comfort as they continue to share their wisdom with us.”

Tweeps on X (formerly Twitter) also condemned the move by the Akwa Ibom governor.

“You present brand new land cruisers to former deputy governors. First off, former deputy governors had cars when they were serving. They had project allocation which I’m sure gave them extra money. If I’m not wrong, they’re collecting pensions, but you thought it wise to give them new cars,” @realsirpee wrote.

“What have you done about unemployment in the state? How about the syringe industry that Udom started? Have you ever thought of bringing or starting any company? All your work starts and ends with the political class. This governance was a mistake.”

“This is wastefulness at its peak money that could have been used for other developmental projects, this is why we don’t see development as a country when governors do rubbish,” @maybatch300 wrote.

“Former deputy governors who served 4-8yrs are got Brand New Land Cruisers for their year of elected services, while retired civil servants who served for 36 years can’t get their pension money and are being owed salaries. Absolutely nonsense,” @Ovokiss wrote.

A SaharaReporters review of the 2025 approved budget of Akwa Ibom State also shows that the state budgeted a sum of N3 billion for the furnishing of a “Hotel apartment at Akwa Ibom State House, Abuja.”

This development comes as the review shows that N1.2 billion was budgeted by the state government for the celebration of the state creation anniversary and Independence Day.

According to the budget document, N700 million was allocated for the “Week-long celebration of Akwa Ibom state anniversary celebration,” domiciled under the Office of the “Secretary to the State Government.”

Akwa Ibom was created on September 23, 1987.

An additional N500 million was allocated for the “Independence Day Celebration,” which falls under the purview of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

This amount exceeds the N611 million budgeted for the College of Nursing Sciences in 2025.

It is also higher than the N360 million budgeted for the State Health Insurance Agency in the same fiscal year.

The N1.2 billion allocation for celebrations exceeds the N1 billion budgeted for the Uyo Capital City Development Authority.

Only N631 million was budgeted for the Akwa Ibom State Water Company in 2025, an amount less than the combined allocation for the Independence Day and state creation anniversary celebrations.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Multidimensional Poverty Index, 19% of school-age children in Akwa Ibom State are deprived of access to school.

The report also indicates that 70% of households in the state are deprived of access to sanitary facilities, while another 64% of households lack access to clean drinking water.

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