Gbajabiamila Denies N10 Billion Residence Renovation, Asserts: ‘I Live in My Private Residence’

The President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, refuted claims of a N10 billion allocation for the renovation of his residence, dismissing the information as fake news. Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Gbajabiamila clarified that his private residence was not earmarked for renovation in the 2024 appropriation bill. Instead, the allocated funds were designated for the Presidential Quarters in Dodan Barracks and the Vice President’s Lodge in Lagos.

In his statement, Gbajabiamila addressed the social media commentary surrounding the 2024 Appropriation Bill and emphasized the absence of provisions for his residence. He pointed out that the figures circulating online were intentionally misrepresented by bloggers and fake news purveyors. The allocated sums, he clarified, were intended for renovating the Presidential Quarters and the Vice President’s Lodge, as well as upgrading information management and communication facilities in the Presidency.

While acknowledging the importance of public debate on budgetary allocations, Gbajabiamila stressed the need for accuracy and facts in such discussions. He underlined the government’s commitment to transparency, citing the public availability of the budget proposal for citizens’ assessment.

Gbajabiamila expressed the administration’s openness to scrutiny of government expenditure but cautioned against baseless insinuations and falsehoods. He called for responsible discourse and emphasized that constructive debate should be grounded in factual information rather than unfounded claims.

Providing context to the situation, Gbajabiamila highlighted an earlier online publication that falsely claimed a N10 billion allocation for the renovation of his official residence in Abuja in the 2024 budget. The report also alleged an additional N10.1 billion for computer software for the Chief of Staff’s office.

In response, Gbajabiamila clarified that the allocated funds were explicitly outlined in the budget proposal and were unrelated to his personal expenses. He reiterated that he resides in his private residence and emphasized the importance of accurate information in fostering healthy public debate and accountability.