Amid escalating insecurity and rising casualties, the Ebonyi State Government has come under fire for spending a staggering N8.3 billion on the purchase of just 20 official vehicles, each costing an average of N417 million. This extravagant expenditure, which dwarfs allocations for critical sectors, has sparked outrage, especially as communities continue to suffer from deadly attacks by armed assailants.
A SaharaReporters investigation into the state’s full-year budget performance document reveals stark disparities in spending priorities. While a whopping N8.3 billion was allocated for luxury official vehicles, the government spent a mere N846.6 million—only 63.9% of the required funding—on the rehabilitation and repairs of water facilities, leaving many residents without access to clean water.
Further scrutiny reveals that:
Public school rehabilitation received only N2.7 billion.
Road rehabilitation was allotted N11.9 billion, just N3.6 billion more than the funds splurged on official vehicles.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs continued to suffer from underfunding, with budget execution plummeting over the past two years.
The misallocation of funds is even more glaring in the state’s approach to security. Despite Ebonyi grappling with relentless attacks by armed groups, the Ministry of Internal Security was allocated N1 billion for capital expenditure in 2024 but managed to spend only N488.7 million—a 48.7% budget performance. Shockingly, out of this amount, N302 million was channeled into traffic lights for the capital city, while security infrastructure suffered.
Other critical security-related budget lines suffered the same fate:
N155 million was earmarked for ten security vehicles, but not a single one was purchased.
N30 million was allocated for security posts at 160 locations, yet none were built.
N100 million was budgeted for surveillance cameras, but only N1.3 million was actually spent.
This pattern of neglect was also evident in 2023, when only N392.6 million was spent from a N2.5 billion allocation for Internal Security and Border Peace capital expenditure.
Massacre in Ebonyi: 16 Lives Lost
As the government prioritizes luxury vehicles over security, Ebonyi continues to be ravaged by violence. In the latest attack, 16 people were brutally killed in Amagu-Nkalaha village, allegedly by suspected herdsmen. The assailants not only took lives but also burned houses and destroyed properties worth millions of naira, leaving families devastated.
Confirming the attack, Ebonyi State Police Command spokesperson, Joshua Ukandu, reported that security operatives recovered 10 bodies from the scene. “Several houses were also burned selectively, and other properties destroyed. Upon receiving the report, we deployed police operatives to the area,” Ukandu stated.
Despite these tragedies, the state’s response to insecurity remains inadequate. Eyewitnesses recounted how the attackers, armed with cutlasses and guns, stormed the village in the early hours of Sunday, slaughtering innocent residents. Ishielu Local Government Chairperson, Mrs. Ifeoma Agwu, confirmed that authorities are still evacuating bodies and assessing the extent of the destruction.
With communities under siege and security forces underfunded, the Ebonyi State Government’s decision to prioritize N8.3 billion luxury vehicles over basic infrastructure and security raises serious concerns about governance and accountability. As residents grapple with fear, uncertainty, and loss, the glaring question remains: Is the government truly serving the people, or itself?
PIONEER NEWS 