By Parrot Newspaper 
Edo Police Station Renovations Spark Budgetary Controversy as Water Resources Ministry Funnels N600m into Non-Core Projects
By Parrot Investigations Desk
Fresh concerns over budget transparency have emerged as a review of Nigeria’s approved 2025 budget reveals that the Federal Ministry of Water Resources—mandated to provide sustainable access to clean water—has inexplicably allocated N600 million to police station renovations in Edo State, a function far removed from its statutory obligations.
According to budget documents examined by Parrot Newspaper, the ministry earmarked N200 million each for the renovation and furnishing of three police stations and their residential quarters:
Sabon Gida Ora Police Station in Owan West LGA,
Afuze Police Station in Owan East LGA, and
Uzebba Police Station, also in Owan West LGA.
These insertions have raised alarm among budget analysts and civil society watchdogs, who question how and why a ministry responsible for water policy and infrastructure is undertaking capital projects related to law enforcement infrastructure.
“This is a glaring case of budget padding or cross-ministerial financial misappropriation,” said a source within a budget monitoring civil society organization who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal. “The Ministry of Water Resources has no constitutional or legal mandate to spend on police infrastructure. It is a misuse of public funds, pure and simple.”
Further scrutiny of the 2025 appropriation act reveals this may not be an isolated incident. Earlier investigations showed that the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation allocated N1 billion for the renovation of an INEC office in Ogun State—again, an expenditure far outside its official purview.
The Ministry of Water Resources, as clearly defined by its mission, is tasked with water supply, irrigation development, and policy coordination in the water sector. Its unexpected foray into police infrastructure has triggered suspicion of inter-agency budget laundering—a practice where allocations are strategically lodged in unrelated ministries to evade oversight or mask irregularities.
Experts warn that such discrepancies threaten the credibility of the national budget and undermine Nigeria’s long-running efforts to instill transparency in public finance.
“This is how systemic corruption is concealed,” said Dr. Theresa Ademu, a public finance expert. “Once you allow ministries to spend outside their statutory mandates, you create a loophole for ghost projects, inflated contracts, and untraceable funds.”
The Edo State allocations also raise regional equity questions. Why multiple police stations in a single senatorial district? Why the Water Resources Ministry? Who proposed and defended the insertions during appropriation deliberations?
As these questions remain unanswered, there is growing pressure on the National Assembly’s budget committees and the Budget Office of the Federation to revisit such anomalies and demand accountability from the affected ministries.
Parrot Newspaper will continue to follow the money trail and provide updates as more revelations surface.
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