Cross Rivers spends almost 50% of its internally generated revenue on vehicles in the first 9 months of 2024

A review by SaharaReporters of the Cross Rivers State fiscal performance document for the third quarter of 2024 showed that the state spent N15.1 billion to purchase SUVs.

This spending means the state spent 46.6% of its internally generated revenue in the first nine months of 2024 on vehicle purchases. During this period, the state generated N32.4 billion internally as revenue.

Details show that 30 SUVs – Hyundai and Toyota Prado vehicles – for “political and general” activities had a budget of N5.9 billion. In the first nine months of 2024, the state has already spent N5.5 billion for the same purpose.

During this period, the state planned to spend N4.6 billion on 50 Hyundai and Toyota Prado vehicles for MDAs.

However, in the first nine months of 2024, the budgeted amount was exceeded by N5 billion, with N9.6 billion already spent for the purpose.

A closer look shows that by the fourth quarter of 2023, i.e. January to December, Cross Rivers State had spent N2.8 billion on Hyundai and Toyota Prado SUVs.

In the fourth quarter of 2023 alone, the government spent N1.2 billion (N665 million on 30 SUVs, Prado, Hyundai) and another N546 million on what was described as “50 SUVs, Prado” .

Data analysis shows that under the office of the state Chief of Staff, a sum of N3 billion was budgeted for the purchase of 30 SUVs – Hyundai and Toyota Prado – for a purpose described as “political and general “. By the end of the year, the state had spent N1.7 billion for this purpose.

Another sum of N2 billion was budgeted for 50 Toyota Prado and Hyundai vehicles for the MDAs, and by the end of the year, N1.1 billion was spent, totaling N2.8 billion. naira.

A closer look shows that although the state budgeted a combined sum of N15 billion for vehicles, nothing was spent on the construction/provision of water facilities.

Furthermore, nothing was spent on the construction and provision of hospitals/health centers and on the construction/provision of public schools.

The state Ministry of Science and Technology did not receive any naira in capital expenditure, while the Ministry of Water Resources also said it did not spend any naira on capital projects .

Only N2 billion was spent by the state on the Ministry of Education on capital expenditure in the first nine months of 2024, based on the budget performance report.