2027 presidential candidate says he reduced official expenses by cutting project costs and limiting travel entourages
The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has explained how he reduced the cost of governance during his tenure as Anambra State governor.
Obi spoke in Washington, DC, on Monday, where he said his administration deliberately avoided unnecessary expenditure and ensured public funds were not wasted on inflated projects.
The former governor said his administration completed some projects at significantly lower costs than the amounts allocated in the state budget.
He cited the refurbishment of his official office and residence as examples.
“When I was governor, the budget for refurbishing my office was N298 million, but I did everything with N48 million,” Obi said.
“There was also a budget of N486 million to refurbish my house, but I completed everything with N81 million,” he added.
Obi Says He Cut Travel Expenses
The former governor also highlighted his approach to official foreign trips.
Obi said governors were often expected to travel with large entourages, but he deliberately limited the number of officials accompanying him.
According to him, many officials who could have travelled with him were not invited to the meetings or events he attended.
“As a governor, you are supposed to travel with 30 people to several places,” Obi said.
He claimed that he did not use 16 per cent of his travel allowance throughout his tenure because he generally travelled without large entourages.
“I was the only person invited; nobody invited them,” he said.
Obi said the approach helped reduce spending on travel allowances and other expenses associated with accompanying officials.
Obi Calls For Lower Cost Of Governance
The NDC presidential candidate argued that public officials must distinguish between necessary government expenditure and spending that adds little value to citizens.
He called for Nigeria’s limited resources to be directed towards productive sectors capable of improving citizens’ welfare.
Obi said reducing administrative costs would create more resources for investments that could stimulate economic development.
The former Anambra governor has made prudent management of public resources a major part of his political message ahead of the 2027 general election.
His latest comments come as political parties and presidential hopefuls intensify their preparations for the election, with the cost of governance expected to remain a major issue in the political debate.
