BudgIT’s Tracka platform has revealed that public projects worth over ₦24 billion across several Nigerian states were abandoned, unexecuted, or fraudulently delivered.
The findings expose serious gaps in governance, accountability, and project execution.
Benue State recorded the highest share of unexecuted projects at 40 percent, followed by Ondo (32.4 percent), Kwara (30.4 percent), Akwa Ibom (27.3 percent), and Sokoto (25.6 percent).
These states together account for over a quarter of projects that received funds but were not implemented. In contrast, Ebonyi, Katsina, Bauchi, Niger, and Enugu recorded the lowest levels of unexecuted projects.
Abandoned projects were most prevalent in Taraba (29.9 percent), Abia (20 percent), Nasarawa (10.5 percent), Adamawa (7.5 percent), and Ogun (7.1 percent), representing nearly all abandoned projects tracked, valued at about ₦7.8 billion.
The report also identified widespread cases of fraudulently delivered projects, including diversion of funds, payments for previously completed projects, and substandard execution.
Imo (17.4 percent), Lagos (12.7 percent), Kwara (11.8 percent), Abia (10.7 percent), and Ogun (8.3 percent) recorded the highest rates of irregularities.
Despite rising budgets, many states continue to struggle with execution. In Benue, only 22 percent of projects were completed while 42 percent were abandoned.
Ondo and Kwara states also showed significant gaps between allocations and actual delivery. Lagos and Ogun, even with strong fiscal capacity, faced persistent governance and project delivery challenges.
Experts attribute these problems to corruption, weak oversight, poor planning, political transitions, and inadequate funding. Civil society organisations warn that the continued neglect of these issues leads to billions of naira being wasted and slows national development.
Recommendations include stronger accountability, proper project planning, enforcement of penalties for non-performance, and a focus on completing existing projects rather than starting new ones.
Without these measures, the report warns that wasteful spending and uncompleted projects will continue to hinder Nigeria’s progress.
