The Federal Government has allocated N1.83 billion in the proposed 2025 budget for the conversion of properties seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) into residential quarters for officials at the State House in Abuja......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
The budget includes N1,830,783,061 for the acquisition, renovation, and rehabilitation of these forfeited assets to be repurposed as housing for top government officials. In addition, N120.28 million is set aside for renovation work at the State House security quarters.
A portion of the proposed budget—N5.49 billion—will go towards the annual maintenance of the Presidential Villa, underlining the high costs of maintaining Nigeria’s seat of power. Further allocations include N6.39 million for the renovation of the president’s quarters, and N49.04 million for upgrades to various State House facilities, such as the security quarters, auditorium, gymnasium, and aides’ quarters along Ibrahim Taiwo Street in Asokoro, Abuja.
For the vice president, the budget includes N466.86 million for the renovation of the official quarters at the State House, as well as N298.39 million for refurbishing the vice president’s guest house in Asokoro. The State House’s Lagos Liaison Office will also see N14.72 million allocated for routine maintenance, including upgrades to Dodan Barracks and the vice president’s guest houses in Ikoyi. Additionally, N140.10 million is earmarked to complete the renovation and furnishing of the State House annex in Lagos.
In total, at least N8.42 billion will be spent on renovations for the president, vice president, their aides, and other State House staff in 2025. This hefty budget allocation comes at a time when public debates over government spending are intensifying, as the nation faces economic challenges.
The government’s proposed budget follows the recent news of the EFCC’s largest asset recovery to date. The commission secured the final forfeiture of a massive estate in Abuja, spanning 150,500 square meters and containing 753 duplexes and other properties. The estate was linked to a former high-ranking government official under investigation for corruption.
The forfeiture was confirmed by a ruling from Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie on December 2, 2024, under the EFCC’s mandate to strip corrupt individuals of assets obtained through unlawful means.
