By Annette Ikponmwonba | September 14, 2026
Keypoints
• Peter Obi says he reduced the cost of governance during his tenure as Anambra governor.
• He said his office renovation was completed for ₦48 million instead of the ₦298 million budgeted.
• His official residence was renovated for ₦81 million instead of the ₦486 million budgeted.
• Obi said he travelled with little or no entourage, helping him spend far less on travel.
• He argued that Nigeria’s limited resources should be directed towards productive sectors and improving citizens’ welfare.
Main Story
The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has revealed how he reduced the cost of governance during his tenure as governor of Anambra State, Obi said his administration avoided unnecessary expenditure and ensured that government projects were completed at significantly lower costs than the amounts initially budgeted, Speaking in a statement on Monday, the former governor recalled that ₦298 million had been budgeted for the refurbishment of his office, but the work was eventually completed for ₦48 million.
He also said ₦486 million was initially budgeted for the renovation of his official residence, but the project was completed for ₦81 million, “When I was governor, the budget for refurbishing my office was N298 million, but I did everything with ₦48 million. There was also a budget of ₦486 million to refurbish my house, but I completed everything with ₦81 million,” Obi said.
He also highlighted his approach to official travels, saying he avoided the large entourages often associated with government officials, According to Obi, governors could travel with as many as 30 people on official trips, but he chose to travel largely alone when only he had been invited.
“As a governor, you are supposed to travel with 30 people to several places. Over the years I was governor, I didn’t use 16 percent of my travel allowance because I wasn’t travelling with anybody. I was the only person invited; nobody invited them,” he said, Obi said the experience demonstrated that public funds could be managed more efficiently when government officials prioritise necessity over excessive spending.
The Issues
The comments have brought renewed attention to the cost of governance in Nigeria, particularly concerns over public expenditure, official travels, government renovations and administrative overheads, Obi’s examples focus on the difference between amounts initially budgeted for projects and what he said was actually spent to complete them, His remarks also reflect his broader argument that government resources should be channelled towards areas capable of improving economic productivity and citizens’ living standards.
What’s Being Said
Obi said public officials should avoid unnecessary expenditure and ensure that government resources are used responsibly, He also argued that officials should not automatically travel with large entourages when such trips do not require them, describing this as another way of reducing government expenses, The former governor maintained that Nigeria’s scarce resources should be directed towards productive sectors rather than excessive administrative spending.
What’s Next
Obi is expected to continue using his record in Anambra State as part of his argument for a more cost-conscious approach to governance ahead of the 2027 presidential election, His comments are likely to keep the debate over public spending, government efficiency and the cost of governance in focus as political parties and candidates present their economic and governance plans.
Bottom Line
Peter Obi says his administration reduced government spending in Anambra by completing renovation projects for substantially less than their original budgets and by limiting spending on official travel, He argues that the same principle should guide governance at the national level, with Nigeria’s limited resources directed towards productive investments and improving citizens’ welfare.
