A document seen by newsmen has ‘exposed’ how Governor Usman Ododo‘s government of Kogi State allegedly expended approximately ₦400 million for the construction of what has been referred to as the “Intruders Gate.”
A copy of the 2024 state budget performance report made public by SaharaReporters in a publication on Wednesday also spent ₦439,500,000.00 in 2024 for the “production of customised staff of office for graded chiefs” in the state.
An ‘Intruders Gate’, often called a security gate or anti-climb gate, is specifically designed to restrict unauthorized access to properties, buildings, or restricted areas.
The main objective of this type of gate is to enhance security and provide protection against potential intruders.
The Kogi 2024 budget report indicated that the government led by Governor Ododo had spent ₦398,817,976.33 on the “intruders gate” over the past nine months, significantly exceeding the ₦100,000,000 that was appropriated and approved in the 2024 budget by the Kogi State House of Assembly.
This raises concerns, as it implies that ₦298,817,976.33 may have been spent in excess of the budgetary limits for this project.
However, the specific location where the government installed the gate was not disclosed in the document.
These expenditures are occurring at a time when residents of the state, like many Nigerians, are experiencing an increase in the cost of living, along with significant hardship and hunger.
Previously, SaharaReporters highlighted that the government led by Ododo allocated ₦2.9 billion for minor capital works and the remodelling of the Government House from January to September 2024.
The analysis revealed that while the state had earmarked ₦100 million for minor capital works at the Government House, it ultimately expended ₦784 million over the nine months.
Additionally, although the government planned to spend ₦962 million on remodelling the Government House structure, the actual expenditure reached ₦2.2 billion within the same timeframe.
The review further indicated that, according to the information released by the state government, there has been a consistent trend of exceeding budgetary allocations.
For example, ₦50 million was allocated to renovate the Speaker’s and honourable members’ residential quarters, yet ₦58.7 million was spent within nine months.
Similarly, the renovation of the lodges for the honourable Speaker and Deputy Speaker had a budget of ₦50 million, but ₦52 million was utilized during the nine-month period.
The maintenance of the official residence of the Secretary to the State Government and landscaping was budgeted at ₦10 million; however, ₦13.8 million was spent within nine months.
Furthermore, the construction of a Mosque and Chapel within the Government House was initially budgeted at ₦25 million, but the state expended ₦86.4 million over the nine months.
