Kano’s 2025 Budget Performance ‘Embarrassing’ – Mohd Garba
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu Democracy Newsline Newspaper on 3th November 2025
A former Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Mr. Garba, has described the state’s 2025 budget performance as “embarrassing” and far below expectations. Speaking on the findings of a budget review published by Democracy Newsline, he said the NNPP-led administration had failed to match its public promises with real progress.
According to the report, key sectors such as water resources, health, and education recorded less than 40 per cent capital budget performance between January and September 2025. Garba noted that the Ministry of Water Resources spent only ₦2.7 billion out of its ₦21.1 billion allocation, while the Kano State Water Board failed to utilise any of its ₦5.6 billion capital vote—despite persistent water shortages across the state.
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He criticised the government for abandoning projects initiated by the previous administration, including the Tiga Hydropower Project, which he said would have reduced dependence on costly electricity supplied by KEDCO.
Garba also faulted the administration’s education priorities, describing the sponsorship of selected students abroad as “political patronage,” while local schools remained overcrowded and underfunded. Budget performance in the education sector stood at 32.2 per cent for the Ministry of Education and just 7.7 per cent for Higher Education.
The health sector, he added, performed even worse, utilising only ₦7.9 billion of its ₦65.7 billion capital allocation in a state still battling cholera outbreaks and high maternal and infant mortality rates.
He further raised concerns about ongoing road projects, which he described as rushed and poorly planned, contributing to traffic congestion across the city.
Garba said the figures cast serious doubt on the government’s capacity to manage the proposed ₦1 trillion 2025 budget. He called for greater transparency, fiscal discipline, and commitment to project execution as the fiscal year draws to a close.
