A report by Tracka, the public service delivery monitoring platform of BudgIT, has uncovered a staggering mismanagement of government funds, with 17 contractors receiving N2.4 billion for 15 projects that remain unexecuted.
The Intercept gathered that these projects, spread across nine states, were fully funded but never initiated, raising serious concerns over accountability in public procurement. The revelations come from Tracka’s 2023/2024 report, titled Achieving National Development through Efficient Service Delivery, launched on 30 January 2025.
Projects Paid For, Yet No Work Done
The report highlights several instances where funds were disbursed without any visible progress on the ground. One of the most glaring cases is Mainstream Contractors, which was paid N401 million in December 2023 by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing for the rehabilitation of the Welcome-Nasarawa-Farewell road, a crucial route linking northern and southern Nigeria via Nasarawa Local Government Area. However, Tracka’s monitoring found no evidence of work commencement.
Similarly, Icent Light Ltd received N153 million between August and November 2023 under the National Institute for Construction Technology, Uromi, for the fencing, landscaping, and completion of Onicha-Uku Town Hall and Event Centre in Delta State, yet the site remains untouched.
In another case, A3 Interbiz Link Service Limited was paid N88 million in December 2023 under the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria for the construction and equipping of a Primary Healthcare Centre in Adedeji Community, Ikirun, Osun State. Yet, Tracka’s findings indicate that no structure exists on the allocated site.
The Intercept noted the findings reported by BudgIT’s Tracka in their 2023/2024 report, titled “Achieving National Development through Efficient Service Delivery.” The report monitored 1,404 projects worth N282.5 billion across 25 states, revealing that:
720 projects (51%) were completed.
332 projects (24%) are ongoing.
129 projects (9%) were abandoned or poorly executed.
223 projects (16%) were not executed despite full funding.
Further analysis by Tracka ranked government agencies based on project execution performance. The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) led with a 78% completion rate, followed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture (68%) and the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency (65%).
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However, the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority had an alarming 20% completion rate, while the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs recorded an even lower 16%, highlighting severe inefficiencies in project execution.
Public Projects Are the Biggest Conduits for Embezzlement—BudgIT
Expressing deep concern over the findings, BudgIT’s Country Director, Gabriel Okeowo, criticised the persistent misappropriation of public funds.
“despite the constant push for increased capital expenditure by the Feder al Government, our tracking shows that capital projects remain the largest conduits for embezzlement,” Okeowo stated.
He warned that poor oversight and collusion between government agencies and contractors allow such wastage to persist, leading to project abandonment.
“Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit is alarming, yet billions meant for critical public projects are siphoned off without accountability,” he added.
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In response to the findings, BudgIT has urged anti-corruption agencies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to investigate the discrepancies in the 2023 budget expenditures and prosecute erring contractors.
“If left unchecked, Nigeria’s scarce resources will continue to be diverted into private pockets at the expense of national development,” Okeowo warned.
BudgIT also called on elected representatives to prioritise addressing abandoned projects and ensuring that public funds are effectively utilised to deliver essential infrastructure.
