Federal Government allocates just a fraction of its N54.93 trillion three-year budget for road projects, disbursing a mere 5%.

The Federal Government has disbursed approximately N2.68tn for the development and upkeep of roads and bridges nationwide between 2023 and April 2026, as indicated by data retrieved from the Open Treasury Portal.

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This expenditure is part of a broader allocation of N54.93tn earmarked for road-related initiatives during the same period, highlighting the significant disparity between approved budgets and actual disbursements.

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The government's focus on infrastructure development is evident, yet financing constraints continue to hinder the execution of capital projects, as reflected in the data.

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The release of these funds coincides with the ongoing Renewed Hope Media Tour, an initiative of the Presidential Communications Team, aimed at showcasing projects undertaken as part of President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.

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According to the Open Treasury Portal, road projects received a combined allocation of N2.53tn in 2023, with N631.51bn actually released, representing a 24.95 per cent implementation rate.

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The Treasury data, however, does not specify which road projects received the allocated funds, nor does it indicate whether the government's four legacy highway projects were included in the expenditure.

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A breakdown of the allocations reveals that road construction projects received N280.14bn out of a budget of N1.09tn in 2023, while rehabilitation and repair works were allocated N345.93bn from a total of N1.42tn.

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Road and bridge maintenance projects received N5.44bn from a total provision of N14.68bn during the same period.

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In 2024, the Federal Government increased its budgetary commitment to the sector, allocating N9.39tn for road-related projects, although actual releases stood at N784.60bn, representing 8.36 per cent of the approved amount.

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Road construction projects accounted for N383.74bn of the spending, from an allocation of N5.05tn, while rehabilitation projects received N384.49bn from a budget of N4.32tn.

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The government also released N16.37bn for road and bridge maintenance, out of a total provision of N18.18bn, in 2024.

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The trend continued in 2025, with the government budgeting N7.22tn for road construction and rehabilitation projects, and releasing N670.68bn, which translates to an implementation rate of 9.29 per cent.

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Of the released amount, road construction projects received N269.75bn from an allocation of N3.42tn, while rehabilitation and repair projects attracted N400.94bn from a budget of N3.80tn.

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The 2026 figures indicate a significant increase in budgetary provisions, with the government earmarking N35.79tn for road construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance projects as of April 2026.

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However, only N597.08bn had been released, representing 1.67 per cent of the approved budget, with road construction projects receiving N293.06bn from a total allocation of N23.61tn.

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Rehabilitation and repair projects received N300.80bn from a total allocation of N12.03tn, while road and bridge maintenance projects had an allocation of N144.64bn, with only N3.22bn released as of the end of April.

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Treasury records show that N26.54bn was released in April alone, leaving an outstanding budget balance of N23.32tn yet to be funded.

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The data suggests that although substantial sums have been allocated for road projects, actual cash releases remain significantly lower than approved allocations, reflecting the financing constraints that often affect capital project implementation.

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Further analysis reveals that road construction consistently attracted the largest allocations, with budgetary provisions rising from N1.09tn in 2023 to N23.61tn in 2026.

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Road rehabilitation spending remained substantial throughout the period, with allocations increasing from N1.42tn in 2023 to N12.03tn in 2026, indicating a parallel effort to repair existing infrastructure.

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Maintenance received the smallest allocations but recorded the highest execution rate, with road and bridge maintenance achieving a 90.05 per cent implementation rate in 2024.

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Overall, the Federal Government budgeted N54.93tn for road-related projects between 2023 and April 2026 but released N2.68tn during the same period, with the percentage of funds released declining over the years.

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The development comes amid the Federal Government's renewed focus on infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth, with several major road projects currently underway across the country.

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These projects include the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, and other strategic federal highways aimed at improving connectivity and stimulating economic activities.

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The Minister of Works, David Umahi, recently disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Works would prioritise the completion of major highways and the execution of four presidential legacy projects in its 2026 capital plan.

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Umahi also stated that the ministry inherited over 2,000 ongoing projects in 2023, many of which have been rolled over into subsequent budgets due to funding constraints, and that the Federal Government owed contractors about N2.2tn for certified works executed between 2024 and 2025.

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The Open Treasury Portal provides a snapshot of how much of the approved budgets for capital projects has translated into actual spending, highlighting the challenge of ensuring that budgetary commitments are backed by timely releases to deliver the intended benefits to Nigerians.