Yobe Govt Budgets Fresh N2.1Billion For Cars After Spending N6Billion On Vehicles In 2024

A review of Yobe State’s 2025 budget has revealed a fresh allocation of N2.1 billion for the purchase of luxury vehicles, despite the government already spending N6.088 billion on cars between January and December 2024.

Records show that in 2024, the state procured 10 Mercedes-Benz station wagons for YOROTA, 20 Toyota Land Cruiser pick-ups, and 25 Peugeot 308 saloon cars (2022 SUV models) for newly sworn-in High Court judges and Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal, at a total cost of N6.088 billion.

This expenditure represented 55% of the N11 billion the state generated internally in 2024.

The spending spree comes at a time when Yobe is battling severe public health challenges.

By September 25, 2024, the state had recorded 132 cholera cases and nine fatalities across Gubja, Fune, Machina, Nangere, and Nguru Local Government Areas, according to Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Mohammed Gana.

Gana said, “No fewer than 112 patients were treated and discharged, while nine others, representing 6.8 per cent, sadly died due to the delay in accessing medical services.”

Despite last year’s lavish vehicle spending, the 2025 budget earmarks another N2.1 billion for automobiles, including two Camry official cars, 30 Toyota Hilux pick-ups, two Toyota Land Cruisers, and five additional Toyota Camrys.

This comes as Yobe remains one of Nigeria’s poorest states.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that 48% of school-aged children in the state lack access to education, 73% of households are deprived of basic amenities, and 27% of residents lack access to clean drinking water.

Overall, more than 1.3 million people in Yobe are classified as poor.

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