Features
How Cross River Spent N7.6Billion On Governor’s Offices—N3.6Billion Above Budget Approval
Written By: SaharaReporters
26 Jul 2025 08:15 AM
A SaharaReporters analysis of the Cross River State budget has uncovered a pattern of budgetary abuse by the state government in the rehabilitation of the governor’s offices.
According to the documents, a total of N7.6 billion was spent on the project in 2024 – N3.6 billion more than the publicly approved allocation.
Initially, the state’s approved 2024 budget earmarked N1 billion for the rehabilitation. However, a supplementary budget passed by the Cross River State House of Assembly in July 2024 increased the allocation to N4 billion, as confirmed by publicly available records.
Despite this, expenditure ballooned to N7.6 billion, with no public documentation explaining or authorising the excess N3.6 billion.
Data from the budget performance document for the entire 2024 fiscal year also show that no further additions were made — only N4 billion was budgeted for the rehabilitation of the governor’s offices.
Despite this, a total of N7.6 billion was eventually spent.
Already, another N200 million is planned for the same purpose in the 2025 fiscal year, according to official budget documents.
What N3.6Billion Spent On Governor's Offices Can Do For Residents?
In 2024, the state budgeted N10.5 million for five boreholes with overhead tanks, meaning that each borehole cost N2.1 million. The N3.6 billion spent without budgetary provision on governor’s offices could have provided 1,714 boreholes across the state.
The state also budgeted N463.5 million for three classroom blocks in technical schools. With N3.6 billion, seven of such classroom block projects could have been executed.
For road infrastructure, N20 million was budgeted for 800 metres of road construction. This means N3.6 billion could have built 180 such roads.
The state budgeted N150 million for the construction of the Calabar International Market. The N3.6 billion could have built 24 such markets, boosting trade and productivity.
N200 million was earmarked for “Marina erosion control.” The N3.6 billion spent without budgetary backing could have funded 18 erosion control projects, helping to tackle flooding.
Additionally, N10 million was allocated for the construction of solar panel streetlights. The N3.6 billion could have funded the installation of 360 such solar streetlights across the state.
According to the documents, a total of N7.6 billion was spent on the project in 2024 – N3.6 billion more than the publicly approved allocation.
Initially, the state’s approved 2024 budget earmarked N1 billion for the rehabilitation. However, a supplementary budget passed by the Cross River State House of Assembly in July 2024 increased the allocation to N4 billion, as confirmed by publicly available records.
Despite this, expenditure ballooned to N7.6 billion, with no public documentation explaining or authorising the excess N3.6 billion.
Data from the budget performance document for the entire 2024 fiscal year also show that no further additions were made — only N4 billion was budgeted for the rehabilitation of the governor’s offices.
Despite this, a total of N7.6 billion was eventually spent.
Already, another N200 million is planned for the same purpose in the 2025 fiscal year, according to official budget documents.
What N3.6Billion Spent On Governor's Offices Can Do For Residents?
In 2024, the state budgeted N10.5 million for five boreholes with overhead tanks, meaning that each borehole cost N2.1 million. The N3.6 billion spent without budgetary provision on governor’s offices could have provided 1,714 boreholes across the state.
The state also budgeted N463.5 million for three classroom blocks in technical schools. With N3.6 billion, seven of such classroom block projects could have been executed.
For road infrastructure, N20 million was budgeted for 800 metres of road construction. This means N3.6 billion could have built 180 such roads.
The state budgeted N150 million for the construction of the Calabar International Market. The N3.6 billion could have built 24 such markets, boosting trade and productivity.
N200 million was earmarked for “Marina erosion control.” The N3.6 billion spent without budgetary backing could have funded 18 erosion control projects, helping to tackle flooding.
Additionally, N10 million was allocated for the construction of solar panel streetlights. The N3.6 billion could have funded the installation of 360 such solar streetlights across the state.
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