Between January and September 2025, Niger State spent billions on guest houses and executive furniture while critical water projects received minimal funding.
Niger State reportedly spent N1.6 billion on “executive” tables and chairs for government guest houses between January and September 2025, according to a review of the state’s budget documents by SaharaReporters. The budget description noted: “Provision of 28 nos Executive Tables and Chairs for additional 17 no Guest Houses behind Government House.” Another N1.5 billion has been budgeted for the same expenditure in the 2026 fiscal year.
The state also allocated significant funds to the construction of guest houses, spending N3.7 billion on nine guest houses in Minna during the same nine-month period, with an additional N2.1 billion approved for similar projects in 2026. In contrast, capital expenditure for the Ministry of Water Resources was only N352 million between January and September 2025, while the Niger State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency recorded zero naira in capital spending during the period.
Residents in several communities continue to face challenges accessing clean water, relying on unsafe sources. A respondent told SaharaReporters that some communities depend on water sources already used by cows, a situation that exposes them to diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea.