Tinubu Inaugurates N21bn Vice President’s Residence Amid Economic Hardship in Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, inaugurated the vice president’s official residence on Friday. The project, completed at a cost of N21 billion, took 14 years from the initial award to its completion.

During the inauguration ceremony, Tinubu emphasized his administration’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and efficient resource utilization. He noted that completing the vice president’s residence during a period of economic hardship demonstrates his commitment to fulfilling promises to Nigerians.

Tinubu highlighted that providing a suitable residence for the vice president is not merely about convenience but is a symbol of respect for the office and its occupants. He noted that the project’s completion reflects the respect and affection he has for the vice president.

“President Bola Tinubu deserves special commendations. We have seen how vice presidents were treated in the past. With the present dispensation, it is a different ball game,” Shettima remarked on behalf of Tinubu.

The project faced numerous delays and was abandoned by previous administrations. Initially awarded in 2010 at a cost of N7 billion, the project was left unfinished in 2015.

“Rather than dwell on past shortcomings, we have chosen to take this opportunity to demonstrate our resolve to confront obstacles head-on,” Tinubu said. “As we commission this state-of-the-art edifice, the official residence of the vice-president, we are fulfilling a long-standing commitment and reaffirming our unwavering dedication to accountability, transparency, and efficient utilization of resources for the betterment of our nation.”

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike provided additional details on the project’s history, explaining how in January 2024, the project cost was reviewed to N21 billion, requiring a further N14 billion.

“It was in January this year (2024) that we had to review the project to N21 billion, from N7 billion, which means an additional N14 billion,” Wike said. “For a vice-president’s residence to take 14 good years and then Mr. President, within a year, made it a reality; this is what is called ‘renewed hope.’”

Wike also recalled that when he took office in August 2023, the project site was overgrown with bushes. He thanked the president for supporting the completion of the project and ensuring the vice president now has a comfortable living environment.

N21 billion for Building Rehabilitation amidst current economic hardship

The inauguration of the N21 billion building occurs amid widespread economic hardship in Nigeria. Since President Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023, his policies, including the immediate removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, have led to significant increases in transportation and food costs. The naira has continued to decline against the dollar, exacerbating economic difficulties for many Nigerians.

While experts have praised Tinubu’s policies as bold and necessary, public criticism has been intense. Many Nigerians lament the resulting economic hardship, questioning the timing and necessity of such an expensive project in the current economic climate.

Many have criticized the N21 billion vice-president’s residence as a slap in the face, especially given the government’s struggle to pay a living wage above N62,000. The lavish spending on the residence, they argue, highlights the disparity between the leadership’s lifestyle and the daily struggles of ordinary citizens.

The project’s completion amidst economic hardship and ongoing negotiations for a new national minimum wage has added to the general belief that Nigerian leaders are selfish and disconnected from the realities of their constituents.

Organized labor has been pushing for a significant increase in the minimum wage, citing the rising cost of living. The government’s proposal of N62,000 has been deemed insufficient by labor unions, who demand N250,000 to meet the basic needs of Nigerian families.