Why we earmarked N4.9bn for Aso Rock electrical maintenance – DG Budget

The Federal government has explained why it earmarked N4.9 billion for
annual electrical maintenance in the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock.

It said the reason was to keep the facilities in good shape.

The Director General Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, said this yesterday
in Abuja during an engagement with the media and civil society on the
2018 proposed budget.

"The Villa is quite an expansive edifice with several residences and
support services, so as significant as N4.9 billion sounds, it is not
too much to keep those facilities in top shape that they have been
kept. Anyone who has been to the villa will appreciate that it is one
of the best maintained edifice in the country," he said.

He also justified the proposed N2.2bn earmarked for the DSS for a
supposed social media mining suite and the N1.14bn proposed budget for
cleaning and fumigation of the Office of the National Security
Adviser.

"This is not the type of cleaning and fumigation that you and I know
as matters of security are treated with some degree of
confidentiality. It could be cleaning and fumigation of some criminal
elements," he said, while justifying the nebulous budget sub-head.

On the N2.2bn social media mining suit under the DSS, Mr. Akabueze
said "the DSS planned to execute some security protocol to curtail
spread of false information which they think could threaten national
security."

"They have assured us that their intention is not to hinder freedom of
expression. But again, different countries in the world agree with
this and that's the reality of our world today," he noted.