The United States Embassy in Nigeria has raised concerns over the extravagant spending habits of Nigerian state governors, warning that such alleged fiscal recklessness deepens inequality and undermines public trust in governance.
In a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, the embassy shared a recent investigative report by The Africa Report titled “Nigeria’s Ruling Class Splashes Billions on Government Houses.”
The publication highlights the disconnect between the country’s political elite and the struggling masses amid biting economic reforms.
The report criticizes state governors for spending billions of naira on the construction and renovation of government buildings at a time when President Bola Tinubu is urging citizens to make sacrifices in the face of rising inflation, fuel subsidy removal, and naira devaluation.
“While Nigerians are tightening their belts, the same cannot be said of the ruling class,” the report notes.
Among the examples cited is Oyo State, where Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration reportedly approved M63.4 billion for renovating the Government House, describing the existing structure as “embarrassing and unbefitting.”
Similarly, in Gombe State — one of Nigeria’s poorest — Governor Inuwa Yahaya is said to be spending N14.9 billion on a new ultra-modern governor’s residence, alongside N14.23 billion earmarked for a new House of Assembly complex.
Quoting transparency and accountability groups, the U.S. embassy wrote:
“Such alleged lack of fiscal responsibility fuels inequality and erodes public trust.”
The move by the embassy to spotlight the report underscores growing international concern about governance standards and public resource management in Nigeria—particularly at a time when millions of citizens face deepening poverty and worsening living conditions.
The report has reignited debate over the priorities of Nigeria’s political class and whether current leadership is willing to share in the economic burden borne by the population.
