The Federal Government has allocated another N1.07 billion in the 2026 budget for the repair and rehabilitation of the official residences of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, according to newly released budget documents.
Breakdown of the 2026 Allocations
Detailed analysis of the N58.18 trillion 2026 appropriation bill shows a specific allocation of N459.4 million earmarked for the rehabilitation of the President's residential building. A further N615.5 million is set aside for repairs to the Vice President's official residence for the upcoming fiscal year.
This latest financial provision pushes the total amount dedicated to renovating the homes of the nation's top two leaders over a three-year period to a staggering N18.4 billion. The figure consolidates allocations from the 2024, 2025, and the newly proposed 2026 budgets.
A Pattern of High-Cost Renovations
Budget records reveal this is not an isolated expense. In the 2025 fiscal year, the government budgeted N1.53 billion for similar projects, with N879.3 million for the president's residence and N656.4 million for the vice president's. The preceding year, 2024, saw an allocation of N1.3 billion.
Further scrutiny uncovers additional, separate funds designated for the vice president's quarters at the State House in Abuja. These include N300 million in 2024, N466 million in 2025, and N326.8 million in the 2026 proposal.
The trend began shortly after President Tinubu assumed office. In 2023, a controversial supplementary budget sought National Assembly approval for multiple high-value renovation projects. These included N4 billion for the president's residential quarters, N2.5 billion for Aguda House, N4 billion for Dodan Barracks, and N3 billion for the vice president's Lagos quarters, drawing significant public criticism.
In a related development, the administration in June 2024 inaugurated a new official residence for the Vice President in Abuja. The project, executed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, was reported to have cost approximately N22 billion.
EFCC's Substantial Recurrent Expenditure
Meanwhile, the 2026 budget document also highlights substantial recurrent spending planned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The anti-graft agency is set to spend over N5 billion on various operational costs.
This includes N1.02 billion for motor vehicle fuel, N1.2 billion for fuelling generators, and N278.6 million for cleaning and fumigation services. Other notable line items are N722 million for refreshments and meals, N376.5 million for vehicle maintenance, and N1.5 billion for maintaining office buildings and residential quarters.
Analysts Raise Concerns Over Fiscal Discipline
The consistent appearance of these large renovation and overhead cost items in annual budgets has raised alarm among public affairs analysts and transparency advocates. They warn that such practices could encourage waste and significantly undermine the government's commitment to fiscal discipline.
Debo Adeniran, Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), described the recurring budget lines as a sign of "systemic inefficiency and weak oversight." He questioned the rationale behind facilities requiring fresh, hefty renovation allocations almost every year.
Echoing this sentiment, political scientist Dr. Kabiru Sa'id Sufi criticized what he termed the "recycling of budget documents with minimal changes," arguing that excessively high overhead costs directly reduce funds available for critical national development needs like infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
Observers are now calling on the National Assembly to strengthen its oversight role by conducting more rigorous scrutiny of recurrent expenditures. The goal is to curb potential wastage and ensure more efficient implementation of the national budget for the benefit of all Nigerians.
