The Kwara State Government admitted spending ₦27 billion on renovating Kwara Hotel, which is ₦9.2 billion higher than the original cost.
The Kwara State Government has officially admitted that it spent ₦27 Billion to remodel and rebuild the popular state owned Kwara Hotel located in Ilorin, the state capital.
Government officials confirmed this total cost update on Monday, September 14, 2026, following several weeks of intense public debate and questions from citizens across the state.
When the state executive council first announced the major project to turn the hotel into a 5 star international facility, officials told the public that the contract would cost seventeen point eight billion naira.
However, recent disclosures reveal that the final money used to complete the work increased by nine point two billion naira above the original plan.
The main reason why the state leadership released this official clarification is to defend the government against allegations of public money waste and corruption.
Opposition political parties, civil society groups, and local community associations had raised strong concerns, claiming that spending such a huge amount to fix a one hundred and 78 room hotel was far too expensive during hard economic times.
In response, government representatives explained that rising inflation, high costs of imported building materials, and the decision to replace all old fixtures inside the building made the total price jump higher.
They insisted that rebuilding the historic hotel will create new jobs, attract international business events to Ilorin, and generate steady revenue for Kwara State for many years.
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Defending the massive expenditure and explaining the economic benefit of the project, official state spokespersons addressed the public directly.
Justifying the heavy budget spending on the facility, state government representatives stated that “₦27 Billion the Kwara government spent on the 178 rooms of Kwara Hotel is not much”.
Replying to critics who called the project unnecessary spending, government officials added that “If ₦2 Billion was spent some people would call it waste regardless of the amount”.
Highlighting that the state is working on multiple projects across different communities, official representatives emphasized that “Kwara Hotel was left to rot for years; now that government is rebuilding it, the same people are shouting. And government isn’t spending only on the hotel. There are projects around Tanke, Oke-Foma, Gaa Saka and other parts of the state”.
Despite these explanations from government officials, independent budget tracking groups and local financial analysts continue to criticize the government for going far beyond the initial contract cost without getting early clearance.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
