Civic tech organisation BudgIT has uncovered 11,122 projects valued at N6.93 trillion allegedly inserted into the 2025 Federal Government budget by the National Assembly. The group described the insertions as a symptom of a growing culture of exploitation and political self-interest in Nigeria’s budgeting process.
BudgIT’s Senior Communications Associate, Nancy Odimegwu, said what began as isolated irregularities has now become widespread abuse, with lawmakers prioritising personal and political gains over national development.
Among the flagged projects are 238 initiatives, each valued above N5 billion, totalling N2.29 trillion. The group also reported 984 projects worth N1.71 trillion and 1,119 projects ranging between N500 million and N1 billion, collectively valued at N641.38 billion, as having no clear justification.
The Guardian’s checks revealed that 3,573 projects amounting to N653.19 billion were directed to federal constituencies, while 1,972 projects worth N444.04 billion were linked to senatorial districts. BudgIT highlighted examples such as 1,477 streetlight projects worth N393.29 billion, 538 boreholes totalling N114.53 billion, 2,122 ICT projects valued at N505.79 billion, and N6.74 billion earmarked for the empowerment of traditional rulers.
One of the most affected ministries is Agriculture, which saw its capital allocation balloon from N242.5 billion to N1.95 trillion due to the insertion of 4,371 projects worth N1.72 trillion. Budgets for the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning were also inflated to N994.98 billion and N1.1 trillion respectively due to similar insertions.
BudgIT also raised concerns about the use of ill-equipped agencies such as the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute and the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, to host politically motivated projects. The college, which is meant to serve as a training institution, was assigned N3 billion for utility vehicles, N1.5 billion for rural electrification in Rivers State, and N1 billion for solar streetlights in Enugu State—projects outside its statutory mandate.
Despite these revelations, BudgIT noted that the Presidency has yet to comment. The group referenced its earlier campaign, The Budget is a Mess, launched in 2024 to spotlight the abuse of the national budget.
BudgIT’s Country Director, Gabriel Okeowo, called for immediate reforms, warning that unchecked budgetary insertions erode public trust, undermine national planning, and divert resources from vital development needs.
