About N400million was spent by the Governor Usman Ododo’s administration in Kogi State for the construction of what was tagged “Intruders gate”, a copy of the 2024 state budget performance report obtained by SaharaReporters has revealed.
An intruders gate, also known as a security gate or anti-climb gate, is a type of gate designed to prevent unauthorised access to a property, building, or restricted area.
The primary purpose of such gate is to provide an additional layer of security and protection against potential intruders.
The budget document seen by SaharaReporters showed that the Governor Ododo-led government had in the last 9 months spent N398,817,976.33 on “intruders gate instead of the N100,00,000 appropriated and approved in the 2024 budget by the Kogi State House of Assembly.
This suggested that N298,817,976.33 was allegedly illegally spent above the budget ceiling on such gate.
However, where the gate was mounted by the government wasn’t disclosed in the document.
A further check on the report revealed that N439,500,000.00 has so far been spent in 2024 for the “production of customised staff of office for graded chiefs” in the state.
These spendings are coming at a time when residents of the state like other Nigerians are going through a spike in cost of living, hardship and hunger.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported how the Ododo-led government spent N2.9billion for the Government House minor capital works and remodelling government house between January and September 2024.
The review showed that while the state budgeted N100 million for government house minor capital works, it has ended up spending N784 million within nine months.
Also while the government budgeted N962million for remodeling government house structure, it has spent N2.2 billion within nine months.
The review further showed that based on the details published by the state government, it has continued to overshoot budgetary allocations.
For instance, N50million was budgeted for renovation of Speakers’, honourable members residential quarters, within nine months however N58.7 million was spent.
Renovation of honourable speaker and deputy speakers lodge stood at a budgeted amount of N50 million , however N52 million was spent within nine months.
Maintenance of the Secretary to the State Government’s official residence and landscaping stood at a budget of N10million, however within nine months N13.8million was spent.
Construction of Mosque and Chapel in the government house was budgeted at N25 million, however the state spent N86.4 million within nine months.