Despite committing record sums to road infrastructure development, the Federal Government has released only a small fraction of the funds budgeted for road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance projects over the last three years. Data from the Open Treasury Portal show that Federal road budget releases between 2023 and April 2026 amounted to N2.68 trillion, compared to a total approved allocation of N54.93 trillion during the same period.

The figures reveal a widening gap between infrastructure ambitions and actual funding, raising fresh concerns about the pace of project execution across the country.

The latest treasury records indicate that the government significantly increased budgetary provisions for roads over the review period, reflecting the importance attached to infrastructure under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

However, while allocations expanded rapidly, actual releases failed to keep pace, resulting in low implementation rates across major construction and rehabilitation projects. The findings emerge amid the ongoing Renewed Hope Media Tour, where government officials have been highlighting key infrastructure projects being executed nationwide.

In 2023, road-related projects received a total budget allocation of N2.53 trillion. Of this amount, N631.51 billion was released, representing an implementation rate of 24.95 percent, the highest recorded during the four-year period. A breakdown of spending showed that:

• Road construction projects received N280.14 billion from an allocation of N1.09 trillion.
• Road rehabilitation and repair projects received N345.93 billion from a budget of N1.42 trillion.
• Road and bridge maintenance projects attracted N5.44 billion out of a provision of N14.68 billion.

Although the Treasury data did not specify individual projects funded through the releases, the figures indicate a relatively stronger capital execution performance compared to subsequent years.

The trend shifted significantly in 2024 as budgetary commitments rose sharply. The Federal Government earmarked N9.39 trillion for road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance projects during the year. Yet only N784.60 billion was released, representing just 8.36 percent of the approved allocation.

According to the records: road construction projects received N383.74 billion from a budget of N5.05 trillion, rehabilitation projects attracted N384.49 billion from an allocation of N4.32 trillion, maintenance projects received N16.37 billion out of N18.18 billion provided in the budget. While maintenance spending recorded strong execution levels, major construction projects continued to face funding limitations.

The challenge persisted in 2025 despite another increase in government commitments to road infrastructure. Treasury records show that N7.22 trillion was budgeted for construction and rehabilitation projects during the year. However, only N670.68 billion was released, translating to an implementation rate of 9.29 percent.

The released funds were distributed as follows: N269.75 billion for road construction projects from an allocation of N3.42 trillion. N400.94 billion for rehabilitation and repair projects from a budget of N3.80 trillion. The figures reinforced concerns that approved allocations were not being matched by actual funding.

The most dramatic increase came in 2026. As of April, the Federal Government had earmarked N35.79 trillion for road-related projects, making it the highest annual allocation within the period under review. Despite this unprecedented provision, actual releases stood at only N597.08 billion, representing 1.67 percent of the approved budget. Treasury data showed:

• Road construction projects received N293.06 billion from an allocation of N23.61 trillion.
• Rehabilitation and repair projects received N300.80 billion from a budget of N12.03 trillion.
• Road and bridge maintenance projects received only N3.22 billion from a provision of N144.64 billion.

The records further revealed that N26.54 billion was released in April alone, leaving an unfunded balance exceeding N23 trillion.

Analysis of the data shows that road construction consistently attracted the largest share of government spending plans. Allocations increased from N1.09 trillion in 2023 to N23.61 trillion in 2026, reflecting growing attention to large-scale highway development projects. Road rehabilitation spending also expanded substantially, rising from N1.42 trillion in 2023 to N12.03 trillion in 2026.

Maintenance received the smallest allocations throughout the period but recorded the strongest implementation performance. In 2024, road and bridge maintenance achieved an execution rate of more than 90 percent, significantly outperforming construction and rehabilitation projects.

The low level of Federal road budget releases comes at a time when several strategic road projects are being implemented nationwide.

Among the flagship projects currently under construction are: the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, other federal highways designed to improve connectivity across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The projects are expected to boost transportation, stimulate economic activity and improve access to key commercial corridors.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, recently informed lawmakers that the ministry continues to face significant financial constraints despite increasing budget allocations.

According to the minister, the Federal Ministry of Works inherited more than 2,000 ongoing projects in 2023, many of which have been carried forward into subsequent budgets. Umahi disclosed that the government currently owes contractors approximately N2.2 trillion for certified works executed between 2024 and 2025.

He noted that limited capital releases have forced the ministry to prioritise projects and re-scope several contracts. The minister also stated that completion of major highways and the execution of four presidential legacy projects would remain key priorities in the ministry’s 2026 capital programme.

The latest treasury figures highlight a recurring challenge in Nigeria’s public finance system: the gap between approved budgets and actual releases. While the government has significantly expanded infrastructure spending plans, actual funding has declined as a percentage of approved allocations.

Implementation rates dropped from nearly 25 percent in 2023 to just 1.67 percent as of April 2026. Analysts argue that unless budget commitments are supported by timely and adequate funding, the expected economic benefits of road infrastructure investments may be delayed.

The latest Open Treasury Portal data reveal that although the Federal Government budgeted N54.93 trillion for road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance projects between 2023 and April 2026, only N2.68 trillion has been released.

The figures underscore the scale of Nigeria’s infrastructure ambitions while highlighting the financing constraints slowing project delivery. As major highway projects continue across the country, the effectiveness of future infrastructure programmes will depend not only on budgetary allocations but also on the government’s ability to translate those commitments into actual spending and completed projects.