The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has revealed that it monitored projects worth over N21.23 trillion under the Federal Ministry of Works as part of efforts to curb corruption and improve accountability in public spending.

Chairman of the commission, Musa Aliyu, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a joint workshop organised with the Nigerian Union of Journalists. The event, themed “Reinvigorating the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2022–2026): A Post-Assessment Roadmap for the Fourth Estate,” focused on strengthening transparency and media collaboration.

Aliyu explained that the commission has prioritised prevention by closely monitoring government spending through its Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Initiative. According to him, the ICPC recently tracked about 950 projects across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, valued at approximately N415.25 billion.

He noted that the exercise exposed several abandoned and poorly executed projects, forcing contractors back to site and improving accountability in service delivery. He added that such tracking mechanisms are designed to ensure value for money and prevent corrupt practices before they occur.

“In addition to these efforts, projects under the Federal Ministry of Works valued at over N21.23 trillion were also tracked, reflecting the scale of our oversight responsibilities,” Aliyu said.

The ICPC chairman also highlighted the crucial role of the media in the anti-corruption fight, describing journalists as key partners in promoting transparency. He urged media professionals to strengthen investigative reporting and uphold responsible journalism to support ongoing reforms.

Aliyu further explained that the workshop was aimed at deepening collaboration between the commission and the media, while generating actionable ideas for the next phase of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2022–2026).

The engagement forms part of ICPC’s broader efforts to reinforce the role of journalists in raising public awareness and ensuring accountability in governance.

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BudgIT, a leading budget transparency and accountability organisation, has raised alarm over widespread project fraud across Nigeria after uncovering 92 fraudulent projects nationwide.

The revelation is contained in BudgIT’s 2024/2025 Tracka Report, released on Thursday, which monitored the implementation of 2,760 government-funded projects across 28 states of the federation.

According to the report, the 92 projects were categorised as “fraudulent” due to diversion of funds, poor execution, relocation of projects without approval, and repeated budgetary allocations for projects already completed in previous cycles.

BudgIT explained that while 1,438 projects were completed, 99 were abandoned, 660 were ongoing, and 471 had not commenced despite funding, highlighting deep-rooted inefficiencies in Nigeria’s public expenditure system.

The organisation noted that Imo State recorded the highest number of fraudulent projects at 17.43 per cent, followed by Lagos with 12.73 per cent, Kwara at 11.76 per cent, Abia with 10.67 per cent, and Ogun at 8.33 per cent. Together, the five states accounted for over 57 per cent of all fraudulently delivered projects, involving about ₦8.61 billion out of the ₦15.07 billion allocated to such projects.

BudgIT said the Tracka initiative also carried out targeted monitoring of strategic infrastructure, including dam projects, revitalised primary healthcare centres, and federally funded projects in the Niger Delta, to assess their impact on national development.

In the dam sector, Tracka monitored 16 projects across 13 states valued at ₦432 million. The report found that none had been completed, with four abandoned, six progressing slowly, and six yet to commence despite receiving funds.

Similarly, 47 revitalised primary healthcare centres tracked across 25 states showed mixed results, with only 26 recording visible improvements, while others were either under renovation, untouched, or abandoned.

In the Niger Delta region, BudgIT tracked 48 federally funded projects across Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers states. While 29 projects were completed, 13 had not commenced, four were ongoing, and two could not be traced despite confirmed funding.

Commenting on the findings, Head of Tracka, Joshua Osiyemi, stressed that budgetary allocations alone do not guarantee development, calling for stronger citizen participation and government accountability.

He urged governments to publish detailed project data, improve supervision, ensure timely fund disbursement, and prioritise projects with real social impact. Osiyemi also encouraged citizens to actively monitor projects in their communities using civic platforms like Tracka to reduce corruption and improve service delivery.

Despite the challenges identified, the report highlighted 15 success stories driven by citizen engagement, including completed healthcare centres, school renovations, erosion control projects, disability empowerment programmes, and access to clean water in several states.

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