The Sokoto State Government has again allocated a humongous sum of ₦2,068,408,806.00 for purchases of vehicles to the State House of Assembly in the 2025 approved budget, WikkiTimes can report.
The breakdown includes the total of ₦1,183,408,806.00 for the purchase of vehicles for 30 honorable members of the State Assembly.
According to the 2024 Budget Performance Report, the State has spent ₦1,263,125,000.00 for the purchase of 30 motor vehicles for Honorable Members and Management Staff.
Other details in the 2025 Appropriation are ₦300,000,000.00 for 2 units of 18-seater Toyota buses; ₦118,000,000.00 for 2 units of Hilux 2020 model vehicles.
The Budget showed further ₦460,000,000.00 had been approved for the purchase of fleet for State the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, including 1 Land Cruiser Lexus, 2 Prado SUVs, 1 Camry, 2 Hilux trucks, and 1 Corolla sedan.
It noted that ₦7,000,000.00 would be used for purchase of 2 Hilux 2019 model vehicles for the Sokoto State House of Assembly Commission.
The vehicle expenditure of a staggering sum of ₦3.3 billion for lawmakers in the State 2024 and 2025 approved budgets has sparked outrage at a time when Sokoto State ranks among the poorest and least developed states in Nigeria, with alarming levels of poverty, illiteracy, and inadequate access to basic amenities.
This expenditure has raised serious questions about the priorities of the state’s legislative arm, especially as Sokoto grapples with some of the worst human development indices in the country.
A State in Dire Need
The extravagant spending on vehicles stands in stark contrast to Sokoto State’s dire socio-economic realities. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Sokoto ranks among the lowest in Nigeria’s Human Development Index (HDI).
Key indicators, according to NBS and UNDP, include poverty, literacy, healthcare and education.
NBS reported that over80% of Sokoto population is multidimensionally poor, lacking access to basic necessities like clean water, healthcare, and education.
According to the UNDP, the state has one of the lowest literacy rates in Nigeria, estimated at 20-30%, compared to the national average of 62% whereas on education enrollment rates, particularly for girls, are abysmally low, with many children dropping out of school due to poverty, and lack of access to education.
On healthcare, Sokoto State struggles with high maternal and infant mortality rates, low immunization coverage, and a severe shortage of healthcare facilities.
Despite these challenges, the State has chosen to prioritize the purchase of luxury vehicles over investments in critical sectors that could improve the lives of its citizens.
Misplaced Priorities
The massive allocation for vehicle purchases has drawn sharp criticism from stakeholders, who describe it as “insensitive and extravagant.” A civil society activist, Sani Abdullahi told WikkiTimes that it is a clear case of misplaced priorities.
“How can the Assembly justify spending over ₦3.3 billion on vehicles in two years when many communities in Sokoto lack basic amenities like clean water, functional schools, and healthcare facilities?” the activist queried.
Another resident, Malam Ibrahim, expressed frustration over the state’s development challenges. “Our children are out of school, our hospitals are in shambles, and our people are dying from preventable diseases. Yet, our leaders are busy buying expensive cars. This is unacceptable,” he said.
Authorities Yet to Respond
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Sokoto State House of Assembly for comments on the allocations were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report. Similarly,
A Growing Trend
This development is part of a growing trend in Nigeria, where state assemblies and government agencies prioritize luxury spending over public welfare. In Sokoto, where poverty and underdevelopment are rampant, the decision to allocate billions for vehicles has further deepened the disconnect between the government and the people.
While the Sokoto lawmakers enjoy the comfort of new luxury vehicles, the people they represent continue to suffer from poverty, illiteracy, and inadequate access to basic services.
