Tracka, BudgIT’s service delivery promotion platform, which allows citizens to collaborate, track and give feedback on public projects in their communities, has uncovered payments worth N2.4bn to seventeen contractors for fifteen projects across nine states, yet no contractor has commenced work on these sites.
According to the organisation’s statement made available to newsmen, some of these projects include: The payment of N401m to Mainstream Contractors in December 2023 under the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing for the Rehabilitation of Welcome-Nasarawa-Farewell from Nasarawa, linking the North and Southern part of Nigeria in Nasarawa LGA, Nasarawa State; N153m to Icent Light Ltd 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 at Aniocha/ Oshimili in Delta; and N88m to A3 Interbiz Link Service Limited in December 2023 under the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria for the Construction and Equipping of PHC Centre in Adedeji Community, Ikirun, Osun State.
These and other payments worth N3.9bn for abandoned projects nationwide were highlighted in Tracka’s 2023/2024 Report, “Achieving National Development through Efficient Service Delivery,” launched today.
According to the report, Tracka monitored 1,404 projects worth N282.5bn across twenty-five states. The findings revealed that 720 projects (51 per cent) were completed, 332 projects (24 per cent) were ongoing, 129 projects (9 per cent) were either abandoned or fraudulently executed, and 223 projects (16) were not executed.
The report also ranked ten Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) based on project implementation rates. The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) emerged as the top performer with a 78 per cent project completion rate, followed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture (68 per cent) and the Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency (65 per cent). However, the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority (20 per cent) and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (16 per cent) ranked low, reflecting inefficiencies in project execution.
Expressing concern over the non-execution of critical public projects despite the disbursement of funds, Gabriel Okeowo, BudgIT’s Country Director, stated: “Despite the clamour for increased allocations to capital expenditure by the Federal Government and sub-nationals, our tracking exercise has revealed that capital projects are the largest conduits of embezzlement and misappropriation.
“Poor oversight and collusion between MDAs and contractors undermine project execution, leading to outright abandonment. Given Nigeria’s pressing infrastructure deficits, public project execution must be seriously treated. We urge the current administration and anti-corruption agencies to close these loopholes, hold defaulters accountable, and prevent further financial leakages. If left unchecked, Nigeria’s scarce resources will continue to be siphoned off by unscrupulous actors at the expense of national development.”
The organisation called on the anti-graft agencies, including the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to investigate these discrepancies in the 2023 budget expenditures and prosecute erring contractors.
“We also urge elected representatives to prioritise addressing abandoned projects outlined in the report to ensure the effective utilisation of public funds for maximum impact,” it noted.
