How Lagos Government Spends Billions on ‘Luxury Items’ While Millions Live in Poverty
Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital and home to over 15 million people from diverse walks of life, takes pride in contributing more than 45 percent to the internally generated revenue of states in the country. Despite the thriving economy, from the affluent Island where multinational offices are headquartered to the Mainland, there is a consensus that the city is not living up to its full potential.
With a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $102 billion, Lagos has over two million out-of-school children. Across the breadth and width of the commercial hub, children within primary and secondary school age limits can be seen hawking in traffic.
However, burdened with other challenges, including healthcare, child mortality rates, the rising cost of living, and housing deficits, recent documents shared by Funso Doherty, a Lagos-based chartered accountant, and ADC Lagos State Gubernatorial Candidate, revealed that the state government, for the second and third quarters of 2023, will spend N5.2 billion on items and projects that many Nigerians have deemed unnecessary.
In a state where 70 percent of people are not connected to the national grid and others contend with occasional blackouts that impact their businesses, the government claimed to have spent over N2 billion on the purchase of rechargeable fans, lights, and fridges.
It begs the question: How many of these items were purchased using an amount that is 1.34 percent of the entire Lagos State budget on education for 2023?
While the State government, in a statement, claimed that the purchase was for the entire 2023 and covers all state houses and offices, just N5.8 billion was earmarked for the Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools.
Similar to the national level, where N57.6 billion was spent on SUVs for 360 House of Representatives members, Lagos State justified the spending of N440,750,000 on a brand-new Lexus Lx 600 bulletproof SUV for use in the office of the Chief of Staff.
In response to Funso Doherty’s viral letter, the government claimed that the car purchased was “in line with current economic realities.”
However, the economic realities of Lagosians show that two-thirds of residents in this megacity live below the poverty line of $1.9 a day. Again, as high as 70 percent live in informal settlements across over 100 slums in the state, according to a report.
While experts argue that using state money for political reasons, such as the decoration of venues for political delegates’ congress at N2 million, is unconstitutional and can constitute an impeachable offense, N60 million was used for the procurement of 10 units of brand-new Hyundai county buses for use in the office pool of the Chief of Staff. Also, in the office of the Chief of Staff, N1.5 billion was used to purchase 10 units of brand-new Ashok Leyland Falcon buses.
Here are 10 controversial items taxpayers’ money was spent on.
1) Supply and Distribution of 2000 Broiler Chickens Across Local Government Areas and Wards in the State
The Office of the Chief of Staff allocated N18,468,000 for the supply and distribution of 2000 broiler chickens across local government areas and wards.
2) Procurement of a Brand New Lexus LX 600 Bulletproof Sports Utility Vehicle for the Office of the Chief of Staff
The Office of the Chief of Staff approved a budget of N440,750,000 for the procurement of a brand-new Lexus LX 600 bulletproof sports utility vehicle for the office’s pool.
3) Replacement of Liquid Fragrance in the Office of Mr. Governor, House, Ikeja
A total of N7,475,000 was allocated for the replacement of liquid fragrance in the office of Mr. Governor at the House in Ikeja.
4) Flying Hour Expenses on Ad-hoc Charter Plane by Lagos State Government
The Lagos State Government earmarked N400,000,000 for flying hour expenses on an ad-hoc charter plane.
5) Decoration of Venue for Political Delegates Congress
An allocation of N20,804,550 was used for the decoration of the venue for the political delegates’ congress.
6) Procurement of 10 Units of Brand New Hyundai County Buses for the Office of the Chief of Staff
The Office of the Chief of Staff allocated N60,000,006 for the procurement of 10 units of brand-new Hyundai County buses for its pool.
7) Procurement of 10 Units of Brand New Ashok Leyland Falcon Buses for the Office of the Chief of Staff
N1,599,999,986 was allocated for the procurement of 10 units of brand-new Ashok Leyland Falcon buses for the office of the Chief of Staff.
8) Renovation of Saint Andrew’s Anglican Church, Oke-popo, Lagos
A budget of N531,553,559 was used for the renovation of Saint Andrew’s Anglican Church in Oke-popo, Lagos.
9) Flying Hour Expenses on Adhoc Charter Plane by Lagos State Government
Additionally, N112,500,000 has been allocated for flying hour expenses on an ad-hoc charter plane by the Lagos State Government.
10) Provision of Supply Items (Rechargeable Fans, Rechargeable Lights, and Fridges in the Office of the Deputy Governor)
The Office of the Deputy Governor has budgeted N2,107,840,000 for the provision of supply items, including rechargeable fans, lights, and fridges.
