Borno Governor Allocates N150 Million to Feed Sheep and Goats

The Borno State Government has set aside N150 million in its 2026 fiscal year budget for the feeding of sheep and goats housed within the Government House, a provision that has sparked debate among residents and public finance observers in the state.

 

The allocation is clearly captured in the approved 2026 budget estimates published on the official website of the Borno State Government. According to the budget document, the item falls under Government House expenditure and is described as: “General purchase of feeding for various Sheep and Goat within the Government House.”

 

A closer examination of the figures shows that the N150 million allocation, when spread across the 365 days of the year, translates to an average daily feeding cost of approximately N410,958 for the animals. On a weekly basis, this amounts to an estimated N2.8 million.

 

However, the budget did not provide details on the number of sheep and goats being maintained within the Government House, leaving unanswered questions about how the figures were arrived at and whether they represent value for money.

 

The allocation has drawn attention partly because of the scale of the amount involved and partly because of the broader economic challenges facing Borno State, which continues to grapple with the aftermath of years of insurgency, widespread displacement, and overstretched public services. Many communities across the state still struggle with access to basic healthcare, education, clean water, and sustainable livelihoods.

 

In addition to the N150 million earmarked for animal feeding, the 2026 budget also includes a separate provision of N50 million for the purchase of kitchen equipment for use within the Government House. While Government House expenditures are often justified as part of official hospitality, protocol, and administration, the size of these allocations has once again brought the issue of government spending priorities into public discourse.

 

The controversy surrounding the animal feeding allocation is heightened when viewed against the backdrop of previous budgetary revelations from the state. A review of Borno State’s 2025 full-year budget performance document had earlier revealed that the government spent a total of N4.3 billion on “livelihood support for Repentant Boko Haram members” during that fiscal year.

 

According to the document, a significant portion of that sum — N1.6 billion — was disbursed between October and December 2025 alone, meaning the expenditure occurred within just three months. The spending was part of the state’s Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme, which is designed to rehabilitate and reintegrate former Boko Haram fighters who have laid down their arms.

 

While the DDR programme has been defended by government officials as a necessary strategy to promote peace and reduce violence in the Northeast, critics have repeatedly questioned both its cost and its effectiveness. These concerns become more pronounced when the figures are compared with allocations to critical public institutions.

 

For instance, the total capital expenditure of the Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Board for the entire 2025 fiscal year stood at N2 billion. This amount is more than N2 billion less than what the state reportedly spent on livelihood support for repentant insurgents in the same year. In a state where healthcare infrastructure has been severely damaged by conflict and where maternal and child health indicators remain among the worst in the country, the disparity has raised eyebrows.

 

Similarly, the capital expenditure for the Borno State University Teaching Hospital in 2025 was put at N2.7 billion, also lower than the N4.3 billion spent on the reintegration programme for former insurgents. The Hospital Management Board’s capital expenditure for the year was N3.1 billion, still falling short of the amount devoted to rehabilitating repentant Boko Haram members.

 

Beyond the numbers, there have also been serious security concerns linked to the DDR initiative. SaharaReporters investigations in 2025 quoted frontline Nigerian soldiers deployed in Borno and neighbouring Yobe State, who accused some government-backed “repentant” insurgents of leaking sensitive military information to their former commanders. According to the soldiers, the policy of integrating repentant fighters into certain aspects of operations and community life was described as a “deadly mistake that continues to cost lives.”

 

These revelations have fuelled public skepticism about the overall direction of spending in the state, particularly when large sums are allocated to programmes and items that do not directly address the immediate needs of ordinary citizens. Against this background, the N150 million provision for feeding sheep and goats at the Government House has become another flashpoint in the ongoing debate over fiscal responsibility and transparency.

 

Some residents and civil society voices argue that while livestock may be kept for official functions, cultural ceremonies, or food supply, the cost should be proportionate and clearly justified, especially at a time when many internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the state continue to rely on humanitarian assistance for survival. Others have called for greater clarity from the government on the purpose of the animals, their number, and how the feeding costs were calculated.

 

So far, the Borno State Government has not publicly responded to questions surrounding the allocation or provided additional details to explain the rationale behind the N150 million figure. As scrutiny of public budgets intensifies nationwide, analysts say such expenditures are likely to continue attracting attention, particularly in states facing prolonged security and humanitarian challenges.

 

For many observers, the issue goes beyond sheep and goats. It touches on a broader concern about how public funds are prioritized and whether government spending truly reflects the pressing needs of the population it serves. As the 2026 fiscal year approaches, calls for transparency, accountability, and people-centred budgeting in Borno State are only expected to grow louder.