NEWS
2024: States Set N15.91trn Budget Benchmark [Breakdown]
In the upcoming year of 2024, the nation’s 36 states, alongside the Federal Capital Territory, have collectively proposed a substantial budget of N15.91 trillion.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu previously presented a N27.50 trillion budget titled the “Budget of Renewed Hope” to the National Assembly in late November 2023.
Presently, this budget is undergoing evaluation and discussions for final approval.
The proposed budget is aimed at fostering economic growth with a focus on generating employment, maintaining macro-economic stability, creating a more favorable investment climate, enhancing human capital development, and addressing poverty while improving access to social security.
Following this, governors from each state across the federation proceeded to present their respective budgets to their state assemblies.
A breakdown of the states’ budgets by regions indicates that the Southwest took the lead with a budget of N4.20 trillion, trailed by the South South with N3.43 trillion, the South East with N2.29 trillion, the North West with N2.50 trillion, the North Central with N1.89 trillion, and the North East with N1.60 trillion.
Within the total budget of N15.91 trillion, Lagos state emerged at the forefront, allocating N2.25 trillion.
This was followed by Akwa Ibom with N845.63 billion, Rivers with N800.39 billion, Delta with N724.90 billion, Ogun with N703.03 billion, Imo with N592.23 billion, Abia with N567.20 billion, Bayelsa with N480.99 billion, Enugu with N521.56 billion, and Anambra with N410.10 billion.
Niger state took the lead among other northern states with a budget of N613.27 billion, followed by Kaduna state with a budget of N458.27 billion. Following closely was Katsina with a budget of N454.31 billion.
Other states include Oyo with N434.22 billion, Zamfara with 423.52 billion, Ondo with N384.53 billion, Kano with N350.20 billion, Borno with N340.62 billion, Edo with N325.30 billion, Taraba with N311.39 billion, Bauchi with N300.22 billion, Jigawa with N298.14 billion, Kwara with N286.40 billion, Plateau with N295.43 billion, and Osun with N273.91 billion.
Kogi state unveiled a budget of ₦258.28 billion, which will be managed by the incoming governor following the departure of Governor Yahaya Bello in February 2024, concluding his two terms of four years in office.
Sokoto followed with a N270.1 billion budget, trailed by Kebbi with N250.13 billion, Cross River with N250 billion, Adamawa with N225.89 billion, Benue with N225.73 billion, Yobe with N217.00 billion, Gombe with N207.75 billion, Ebonyi with N202.13 billion, and Nasarawa with N199.88 billion.
Ekiti state presented the lowest budget of N159.57 billion.
Previously, Economic Confidential, a PR Nigeria subsidiary, identified Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Kaduna, Kwara, Oyo, and Edo as the most financially robust states in Nigeria for 2022.
Zekeri Idakwo, the Assistant Editor of Economic Confidential, revealed this information during a press briefing and the unveiling of the 2022 Annual States Viability Index Report in Abuja.
He mentioned that the report was assembled using data released by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics and the Federal Account Allocation Committee.
NEWS
Showunmi Urges South-East to Judge Tinubu by Projects, Not Propaganda
Otunba Segun Showunmi, a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) for 2027, has urged the South-East to assess President Bola Tinubu’s administration based on verifiable projects and measurable results rather than political propaganda.
Showunmi made the call in a statement posted on X on Saturday, urging Nigerians to evaluate the government’s performance based on infrastructure delivery, funds committed to projects and their impact on communities.
He said federal infrastructure initiatives targeting the South-East under Tinubu’s administration deserved serious scrutiny and factual assessment, adding that unfulfilled promises should continue to be pursued until the expected results were delivered.
SEE ALSO: 2027 Election: ‘Look Beyond the Noise’ – Showunmi Urges Nigerians to Give Tinubu More Time
“Our message is clear: We will not trade facts for propaganda, nor accountability for political loyalty!” he said.
The political figure challenged critics of the administration to provide evidence to support their claims, while urging those defending the government to present the projects and demonstrate their impact.
He also called on government officials to publish relevant figures, disclose project timelines and provide measurable results, insisting that no public official should be exempt from scrutiny.
According to Showunmi, the South-East deserves infrastructure that supports economic growth, including roads that connect markets, investments that create jobs and policies that expand economic opportunities.
He maintained that political representation must translate into tangible benefits for citizens, stressing that public office should deliver value to the people.
As part of his call to action, Showunmi urged Nigerians to scrutinise government records, challenge misinformation with evidence and demand the completion of outstanding projects.
He further called for public commitments to be matched by measurable delivery, arguing that leadership should be assessed by facts and results rather than political rhetoric.
Ending his statement with the slogan, “Asiwaju is a goal,” Showunmi called for accountability and greater inclusion of the South-East in Nigeria’s development.
Showunmi is associated with The Alternative and is a member of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 elections.
NEWS
Lagos: LASTMA Announces Traffic Restrictions Along Route to Toll Gate
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Saturday announced a temporary road closure near Apostolic Church, inward Toll Gate, to allow engineers to install a beam on a height-restriction structure.
The agency said the installation was aimed at preventing high-rise trailers from accessing the newly constructed pedestrian bridge.
ALSO READ: LASTMA Alerts Motorists to Traffic Delays on Ogunnusi Road
“Currently, one lane has been occupied to facilitate the ongoing construction work, while the remaining two lanes are available to motorists,” LASTMA stated.
The agency advised road users to approach the affected corridor with caution and follow the directions of its personnel deployed to the area.
“Road users are advised to approach the affected corridor with caution and follow the directions of our personnel who are on ground to ensure the smooth flow of vehicular movement,” the statement added.
LASTMA also urged motorists to remain patient while the installation work continued.
“Motorists are encouraged to exercise patience while the installation work is in progress,” the agency stated.
NEWS
‘Oseni Rufai Helped Me, Not NiDCOM’ — Ekene Chukwuma on Return to Nigeria
Nigerian national Ekene Chukwuma has said he returned to Nigeria with assistance linked to Oseni Rufai rather than the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), while renewing allegations against the commission’s chairperson, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, over his travel documents.
Chukwuma made the remarks in an interview in which he explained how he returned to Nigeria after spending months at a deportation camp in India.
RELATED NEWS: Rufai Oseni Row: NiDCOM Breaks Silence on Nigerians Detained in India, Addresses Ekene’s Case
“My name is Kenneth Chukwu, from Enugu State,” he said, introducing himself before explaining how he returned to the country.
“I came back here with the assist of Osini Roufai, a good friend of him,” he said.
Chukwuma denied that NiDCOM facilitated his return, alleging that the commission had published false information about his case.
“NiDCOM made a lots of false, uh, news acquisition against me, which is still in Abike Dabiri handle in Twitter,” he said.
He also accused Dabiri-Erewa of sharing his expired international passport and a travel certificate he claimed was issued six months after he entered the detention camp.
“He also, she also posted my international passport that expired. He also, she also posted my TC that issued after 6 months,” he said.
His comments renew questions surrounding the handling of his case and the circumstances under which he obtained the documents needed to return to Nigeria.
Chukwuma’s detention in India previously sparked a public disagreement between ARISE News presenter Oseni Rufai and Dabiri-Erewa over NiDCOM’s response to reports of his situation.
Oseni raised concerns about Chukwuma’s detention and the commission’s handling of the case, while Dabiri-Erewa defended NiDCOM’s position and explained the process for submitting information to the commission.
NiDCOM subsequently issued its account of Chukwuma’s detention, stating that he had been arrested in India over a visa overstay and addressing the circumstances surrounding his travel documents.
The differing accounts prompted public debate about the commission’s response to Nigerians facing immigration difficulties abroad.





