The United States embassy in Nigeria says Nigerian governors lavish billions of naira on buildings while citizens go to bed hungry.
It said this in a report entitled, ‘Nigeria’s ruling class splashes billions on Government houses,’ published by The Africa Report.
The report said while President Bola Tinubu urges Nigerians to endure the economic hardship emanating from his policies, the governors do not share in the sacrifice.
“While Nigerians are tightening their belts, the same cannot be said of the ruling class.
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“Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration approved N63.4 billion for the renovation of the Government House, claiming it was an embarrassment and an unbefitting facility.
“In Gombe, one of the poorest States in Nigeria, Governor Inuwa Yahaya committed N14.9 billion for a new ultra-modern residence. Another N14.23 billion is being spent on the House of Assembly complex,” the Report said in part.
The US Embassy shared the link to the report on X on Tuesday alongside quotes from transparency and accountability advocacy groups.
“Such alleged lack of fiscal responsibility fuels inequality and erodes public trust,” the embassy wrote.
Many Nigerians are facing acute poverty resulting from the spiraling cost of living, resulting from petrol subsidy removal, and foreign exchange liberalisation.
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Rural poverty has reached alarming 75.5%, according to the World Bank.
“Nigeria’s Prosperity Gap — the average factor by which individuals’ incomes must be multiplied to attain a prosperity standard of $25 per day for all — is estimated at 10.2, higher than most peers,” World Bank’s April 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief for Nigeria said.
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate stood at 22.22% in June 2025.
In spite of these dark realities, politicians live in wealth and do not care how citizens manage to make both ends meet.
