Thirty-three Nigerian state governments spent more than $300 million on government houses, governors’ offices, travel and transport in the first six months of 2026, according to an analysis by Deutsche Welle (DW) based on state budget implementation reports.
“The figure is about 4,700 times higher than the combined six-month salary of Nigeria’s 36 governors,” DW reported in its analysis, highlighting the wider cost of maintaining state executive offices beyond the statutory remuneration of governors.
Of the total, about $273 million was spent on government housing and office-related expenditure, while another $60 million went towards travel and transport during the period.
The findings come amid renewed public debate over the remuneration of Nigerian governors, following comments by Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori that some senior civil servants earn more than state governors.
The analysis shows that a substantial share of the spending was directed towards government residences, office facilities, official travel and transportation.
The expenditure has renewed attention on fiscal discipline at the state level and the allocation of public resources towards development priorities.
The figures also raise broader questions about expenditure controls at the sub-national level, particularly the costs associated with maintaining official residences, administrative facilities and transportation for political office holders.
While governors’ salaries are determined within Nigeria’s public remuneration framework, the wider expenditure attached to their offices can have a much larger fiscal footprint.
The latest figures are therefore likely to keep attention focused on how state governments budget for executive administration and whether such spending provides sufficient value relative to competing needs in infrastructure, healthcare, education and other public services.
