US Embassy Lambasts Tinubu Over Wasteful Renovation Of Aso Rock

By Sodiq Lawal 

The US Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria has lambasted President Bola Tinubu’s administration over what it termed wasteful spending on the renovation of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, amid the harsh economic realities in the country.

In a post on its verified X handle on Tuesday, the US Mission referenced a report by The Africa Report, which revealed how some state governors and federal authorities were allegedly spending billions of naira on luxury government buildings, even as the citizens continued to grapple with soaring inflation and collapse of basic services.

The US Mission wrote, "While Nigerians are urged to endure economic hardship ‘like labour pains,’ some governors are splurging billions on new government houses." 

Citing further analysis from civic organisations, the US Mission tagged BudgIT Nigeria and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, who jointly condemned the pattern of fiscal recklessness among Nigerian leaders.

BudgIT had earlier noted that rather than invest in essential sectors such as education, healthcare, and agriculture, Nigerian leaders are prioritising expensive building projects that serve little public value.

“Instead of funding schools, clinics, or agriculture, leaders prioritise buildings they barely use,” it warned.

Echoing this concern furthermore, CISLAC bemoaned what it described as a disturbing trend of increasing national revenue without accountability or impactful allocation, adding that, "There is more money, little accountability, and no priority.” According to the organisation, mismanagement of funds was fast becoming the norm.

The US Mission stressed that the apparent lack of fiscal discipline has continued to deepen inequality and erode public confidence in governance structures.