92 Projects Flagged As Fraudulent In Nationwide Budget Tracking Exercise
Widespread Project Failures Identified
A new civic accountability report has raised concerns over the implementation of federal government-funded projects under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, uncovering dozens of abandoned, unexecuted and fraudulently delivered projects across the country.
The 2024/2025 Project Tracking Report, released on Thursday by Tracka, BudgIT’s citizen-led monitoring platform, revealed that 92 federally funded projects valued at ₦15.07 billion were fraudulently delivered, while hundreds of others were either incomplete or had not commenced despite receiving budgetary allocations.
Tracka said it monitored 2,760 projects across 28 states, providing one of the most comprehensive citizen-driven assessments of capital project implementation during the period under review.
Low Completion Rates and Fraud Indicators
According to the report, only 1,438 projects were completed, while 660 were ongoing. A further 471 projects were not executed at all, and 99 were abandoned despite evidence of funding approvals.
The 92 fraudulently delivered projects, Tracka explained, were marked by fund diversion, relocation to unauthorised locations, payments for projects already executed in previous budget cycles, partial completion, or substandard execution that failed to meet contractual specifications.
States with Highest Concentration of Fraud
The report identified Imo, Lagos, Kwara, Abia and Ogun states as having the highest concentration of fraudulently delivered projects.
According to Tracka’s analysis, 57.1 per cent of all fraudulent projects—representing ₦8.61 billion of the total ₦15.07 billion—were located within these five states, raising concerns about procurement oversight, contractor accountability and inter-agency coordination.
Strategic Infrastructure Projects Underperform
Tracka said its monitoring focused on sectors considered critical to national development, including dams, primary healthcare centres and federal interventions in the Niger Delta.
On dam infrastructure, the platform tracked 16 dam projects across 13 states, valued at ₦432 million, following repeated national grid collapses recorded in 2024. The findings were troubling: none of the projects had been completed. Four were abandoned, six were progressing slowly, while six had not commenced despite budgetary approvals.
Tracka warned that delays in dam projects undermine irrigation, flood control, water supply and power generation, worsening economic vulnerability in affected communities.
Healthcare Projects Show Mixed Outcomes
In the health sector, the report tracked 47 revitalised primary healthcare centres across 25 states. Only 26 facilities showed visible improvements in infrastructure or equipment. Twelve were still undergoing renovation, eight showed no evidence of intervention despite being listed as revitalised, and one facility was completely abandoned.
The report noted that in many communities, residents continue to travel long distances to access medical care due to poor staffing, inadequate equipment and weak sanitation standards, limiting the intended impact of public health investments.
Niger Delta Projects: Progress and Gaps
In the Niger Delta region, Tracka monitored 48 federal government-funded projects across Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta and Rivers states. Of these, 29 projects were completed, delivering measurable benefits to host communities.
However, 13 projects had not commenced, four were ongoing, and two were untraceable, despite confirmed funding allocations—raising questions about transparency and record-keeping.
Citizen Engagement Yields Results
Despite the challenges, the report highlighted 15 success stories where citizen monitoring helped accelerate project delivery. These included the revitalisation of the Kaida Sabo Primary Healthcare Centre, renovation of Nawairudeen Primary School in Plateau State, completion of a stalled healthcare facility in Ikirun, erosion control projects in Rivers State, borehole installations in Akwa Ibom, and empowerment programmes for persons with disabilities in Katsina State.
Call for Greater Civic Oversight
The Head of Tracka, Joshua Osiyemi, said stronger citizen participation is essential to improving service delivery and reducing corruption.
“If just five per cent of Nigerians engage in oversight, monitoring could reach 50 per cent,” he said. “This would significantly reduce opportunities for corruption and improve quality of life across communities.”
