A 14-YEAR-OLD OHIO GIRL HAS TAKEN HER OWN LIFE, AND HER FAMILY BELIEVES THAT SOCIAL MEDIA PLAYED A ROLE.(PHOTO).
The Federal Government released only N2.68 trillion for road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance projects between 2023 and April 2026, despite making budgetary provisions amounting to N54.93 trillion for the sector during the period, according to data obtained from the Open Treasury Portal.
The figures reveal a significant gap between approved allocations and actual cash releases, highlighting the financing challenges that continue to hamper the execution of capital infrastructure projects across the country.
The development comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to showcase projects under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through the ongoing Renewed Hope Media Tour organised by the Presidential Communications Team.
An analysis of Treasury records showed that road-related projects received a budgetary allocation of N2.53 trillion in 2023, with actual releases amounting to N631.51 billion, representing an implementation rate of 24.95 per cent.
The data indicated that road construction projects received N280.14 billion from an allocation of N1.09 trillion, while rehabilitation and repair works got N345.93 billion from a budget of N1.42 trillion. Road and bridge maintenance projects received N5.44 billion out of N14.68 billion budgeted for the year.
In 2024, the government increased budgetary provisions for road infrastructure to N9.39 trillion. However, actual releases stood at N784.60 billion, representing 8.36 per cent of the approved allocation.
Of the amount released, N383.74 billion went to road construction projects from a budget of N5.05 trillion, while rehabilitation projects received N384.49 billion from an allocation of N4.32 trillion. Road and bridge maintenance projects received N16.37 billion out of N18.18 billion budgeted.
The trend persisted in 2025, when N7.22 trillion was earmarked for road construction and rehabilitation projects. Treasury records showed that N670.68 billion had been released, translating to an implementation rate of 9.29 per cent.
Road construction projects received N269.75 billion from a budget of N3.42 trillion, while rehabilitation and repair works attracted N400.94 billion from an allocation of N3.80 trillion.
For 2026, budgetary provisions rose sharply to N35.79 trillion, the highest within the four-year period. However, as of April, only N597.08 billion had been released, representing 1.67 per cent of the approved amount.
A breakdown showed that road construction projects received N293.06 billion from a budget of N23.61 trillion, while rehabilitation and repair projects got N300.80 billion from an allocation of N12.03 trillion. Road and bridge maintenance projects were allocated N144.64 billion but received only N3.22 billion.
Treasury records further showed that N26.54 billion was released in April 2026 alone, leaving an outstanding balance of more than N23 trillion yet to be funded.
The data showed that while budgetary allocations for road projects expanded significantly over the years, the proportion of funds released steadily declined. Implementation rates dropped from 24.95 per cent in 2023 to 8.36 per cent in 2024, 9.29 per cent in 2025 and 1.67 per cent as of April 2026.
Road construction consistently attracted the largest share of allocations, rising from N1.09 trillion in 2023 to N23.61 trillion in 2026, reflecting the government's focus on large-scale highway projects. Allocations for rehabilitation projects also increased from N1.42 trillion to N12.03 trillion within the same period.
Although maintenance projects received the smallest allocations, they recorded the highest implementation rates. In 2024, road and bridge maintenance achieved a 90.05 per cent execution rate, compared with less than 10 per cent for construction and rehabilitation projects.
Several major road projects are currently underway nationwide, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road and the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, recently told lawmakers that the ministry would prioritise the completion of key highways and four presidential legacy projects in its 2026 capital plan.
According to the minister, the ministry inherited more than 2,000 ongoing projects in 2023, many of which have been rolled over into subsequent budgets due to funding constraints. He also disclosed that the Federal Government owes contractors about N2.2 trillion for certified works executed between 2024 and 2025, forcing the ministry to prioritise and re-scope projects amid limited capital releases.
The Open Treasury Portal, which tracks government revenues and expenditures, provides data on the extent to which approved budgets for capital projects are translated into actual spending.
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