N5.8 Billion Allocated By State Governor To Buy Cars For

N5.8 Billion Allocated By State Governor To Buy Cars For Himself, Commissioners, And Other Officials, Despite State's Poverty Index

According to a February 2024 National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) study, 30 percent of Abia State’s population lives in multi-dimensional poverty, with the state’s poverty index being at 30 percent…

N5.8 Billion Allocated By State Governor To Buy Cars For Himself, Commissioners, And Other Officials, Despite State’s Poverty Index

The state governor, Alex Otti, has allotted N5,845,000,000 for the purchase of cars for himself, commissioners, the permanent secretary, the judiciary, and Government House/MDAs, according to a study of the Abia State government’s approved budget for 2024.

According to a February 2024 National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) study, 30 percent of Abia State’s population live in multi-dimensional poverty, with the state’s poverty index being at 30 percent.

Residents and shop owners in and around Aba, Abia State’s Nkwo Ngwa market bemoaned and chastised Governor Otti for their flooded terrible road earlier this month.

The locals and entrepreneurs have accused the administration of using social media marketing to promote Governor Alex Otti’s administration, claiming that “he is only patching roads constructed by the previous government.”

But despite the public outcry over the state’s poverty and poor infrastructure, as well as the governor’s pledge to reposition the state and help its citizens escape poverty, an examination of the approved budget for 2024 showed that Governor Otti gave the Office of the Governor N1,545,000,000 for the “Purchase of vehicle for commissioners, Judiciary and permanent secretary.

Additionally, he gave the Office of the Governor a total of N2.8 billion for the “Purchase of motor vehicles for Government House/MDAs.”

Additionally, according to the budget paper, Governor Otti gave the Office of the Governor N1.5 billion for the “Purchase of 2 number Toyota Hilux.”

He had, however, blamed a software error caused by the Excel program used to create the budget sheet for the N1.5 billion budget allotted to the Governor’s Office for the acquisition of the two Toyota Hilux.

According to Governor Otti, the total number of vehicles (two Toyota Hilux) is accurate; however, the amount for two Hilux vans, each costing N75 million, is N150 million rather than N1.5 billion.

According to media sources, Otti stated, “I think it is not that significant in determining the outcome if you check N1.5 billion against the N487 billion budget, which translates to about 0.3%, less than half percent of the total figure.” Therefore, it wouldn’t have mattered if the incorrect amount had been added to the total.

It is sufficient to state, however, that anything issued by the government must be accurate. It has been fixed because it was a mistake.

“I don’t believe there is anything to worry about. The total figures are accurate, and the N1.5 billion figure was actually N150 million; two Hilux vans, each costing N75 million, will give you N150 million.

N5.8 Billion Allocated By State Governor To Buy Cars For Himself, Commissioners, And Other Officials, Despite State’s Poverty Index