Tracka Flags ₦13.86bn Released for Projects Without Visible Work Across Nigeria
A new public expenditure monitoring report has raised concerns over the release of ₦13.86 billion for government projects across Nigeria without corresponding evidence of work at the locations inspected.
The findings were contained in the second-quarter 2026 scorecard released by Tracka, a civic accountability initiative of BudgIT, which monitors government-funded projects and their impact on communities.
According to the report, Tracka monitored 944 public projects across 29 states and the Federal Capital Territory between April and June 2026.
The projects had a combined budgetary allocation of ₦1.497 trillion, out of which ₦608.99 billion had reportedly been disbursed.
However, the monitoring exercise identified ₦13.86 billion in disbursements that could not be matched with visible implementation at the project sites assessed.
The findings have renewed questions about project supervision, the release of public funds and the responsibility of government agencies to ensure that approved projects are delivered.
Only 225 of 944 Projects Completed
Tracka’s assessment showed that 225 projects, representing 23.8 per cent of the monitored projects, had been completed.
Another 254 projects, or 26.9 per cent, were ongoing, while 109 projects, representing 11.5 per cent, had not commenced.
The organisation also identified 33 abandoned projects, accounting for 3.5 per cent of the total monitored.
The figures suggest that a significant number of projects were yet to deliver their intended benefits at the time of the assessment.
However, the completion rate applies to the 944 projects selected for monitoring and should not be interpreted as the completion rate for every government project in Nigeria.
Tracka said its field teams visited project locations, interviewed community members and traditional leaders, took photographs and reviewed available budget and expenditure records.
The exercise was intended to compare financial releases with physical progress and determine whether communities were receiving the services promised in government budgets.
Borno, Ondo and Niger Record Major Funding Gaps
The report identified Borno State as accounting for the largest share of disbursements without visible implementation.
According to the findings, ₦4.98 billion was released for projects in Borno without corresponding work being identified during monitoring.
Ondo State followed with ₦2.03 billion, while Niger State recorded approximately ₦1 billion.
These three states accounted for a substantial share of the ₦13.86 billion flagged by the organisation.
Tracka described the findings as a serious warning about the gap between public expenditure and project delivery.
The organisation called for further investigation to establish why funds had been released without corresponding progress at the affected locations.
The report did not establish that all the money had been diverted or stolen. Such conclusions would require additional examination of payment records, contract terms, implementation timelines and explanations from the responsible agencies and contractors.
Lagos Records Three Per Cent Project Completion
The scorecard also highlighted differences in project implementation across the states monitored.
Kwara recorded a completion rate of 46.7 per cent, while Lagos had a completion rate of three per cent among its tracked projects.
Ondo recorded 6.1 per cent, followed by Adamawa and Benue at 6.7 per cent each, while Abia recorded 9.7 per cent.
The figures reflect the status of projects included in Tracka’s monitoring exercise rather than the entirety of each state’s capital projects.
In Lagos, 66.7 per cent of the projects assessed were classified as ongoing.
Adamawa, Niger and Taraba each recorded 43.3 per cent of tracked projects in the ongoing category, while Nasarawa recorded 40.6 per cent.
Although ongoing projects are not necessarily abandoned, prolonged delays can prevent communities from receiving the intended benefits of public spending.
The findings underline the importance of publishing realistic implementation schedules and providing regular updates on project progress.
Primary Healthcare Facilities Also Raise Concerns
Beyond construction and infrastructure projects, Tracka examined conditions at primary healthcare centres.
The report rated 183 assessed facilities as good and 167 as bad.
Benue State recorded particularly poor results, with only one of the 12 assessed facilities rated good.
The remaining 11 facilities were classified as bad, leaving just 8.3 per cent with a positive rating.
Plateau recorded 16.7 per cent of assessed facilities in good condition, while Ondo recorded 18.2 per cent.
These findings raise concerns about access to basic healthcare, especially in communities that depend on public primary healthcare centres for essential services.
Poor facility conditions can affect patient care, sanitation, the working environment for healthcare personnel and the availability of basic services.
Tracka called for urgent rehabilitation of primary healthcare facilities in Benue, Plateau and Ondo.
Why the ₦13.86bn Finding Matters
Public infrastructure projects are generally intended to provide essential services, including roads, healthcare facilities, schools, water supply and other community needs.
When money is released but the expected work is not visible, questions arise about whether the funds were properly utilised, whether contractors received payment ahead of work or whether implementation was delayed for legitimate reasons.
Such questions cannot be answered through physical inspection alone.
A comprehensive investigation would need to examine the contract documents, payment certificates, disbursement dates, procurement records and the current condition of each project.
Government agencies and contractors would also need an opportunity to explain any discrepancies.
The distinction is important because a project may be delayed for several reasons, including procurement challenges, site disputes, funding schedules or changes in implementation plans.
Nevertheless, unexplained discrepancies between disbursements and visible progress warrant scrutiny.
Tracka Calls for Stronger Oversight
Tracka recommended closer examination of expenditure and implementation gaps, particularly in states where large disbursements were recorded without visible project delivery.
The organisation urged authorities to carry out public expenditure tracking exercises and additional physical inspections.
It also called for stronger project supervision and better mechanisms for verifying progress before and after payments are made.
The findings add to longstanding concerns about abandoned and uncompleted public projects in Nigeria.
Earlier Tracka monitoring exercises similarly identified projects that had not commenced, remained abandoned or failed to meet expected standards despite funding.
For communities awaiting roads, schools, healthcare facilities and other services, the central issue is whether government expenditure translates into practical improvements.
Government Agencies Face Questions Over Project Delivery
The latest scorecard provides grounds for further examination of the projects identified by Tracka.
Among the questions requiring clarification are the amounts paid to individual contractors, the conditions under which payments were approved and whether the responsible government agencies conducted their own inspections.
It also remains necessary to establish whether any of the affected projects have progressed since the April-to-June monitoring period.
As of the findings reported, the ₦13.86 billion represents disbursements without matching visible implementation, not a confirmed amount of stolen public funds.
The report places renewed attention on the need for transparency, accurate project records and accountability in the management of public resources.
For Nigerians in communities where promised projects remain unfinished or have yet to begin, the outcome of any follow-up investigation will be important in determining whether those projects are eventually delivered.
Source: SaharaReporters, October 28, 2026, reporting on Tracka’s Q2 2026 project monitoring scorecard.
