Government Releases Only 5% of ₦54.93tn Road Infrastructure Budget Amid Funding Shortfalls
The Federal Government has released approximately ₦2.68tn for road construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance projects across Nigeria between 2023 and April 2026, according to data obtained from the Open Treasury Portal.
An analysis of the figures shows a substantial gap between approved budgetary provisions and actual disbursements, with a total allocation of about ₦54.93tn made for road infrastructure within the period under review.
The trend highlights a continued rise in government commitment to road development but also exposes persistent challenges in the release of funds for capital projects.
In 2023, ₦631.51bn was released out of a ₦2.53tn allocation, representing about a quarter of the approved budget. In 2024, although ₦9.39tn was budgeted for road-related projects, only ₦784.60bn was disbursed, reflecting a single-digit implementation rate.
For 2025, ₦670.68bn was released from a ₦7.22tn allocation, while in 2026 up to April, only ₦597.08bn had been accessed out of a ₦35.79tn budget provision, indicating a very low implementation level.
Across the period, road construction consistently received the highest share of funding, followed by rehabilitation works, while maintenance projects recorded comparatively smaller allocations but, in some instances, better execution rates.
Despite the rising scale of budgetary commitments, actual cash releases have remained significantly lower, suggesting ongoing fiscal and funding constraints affecting project delivery.
The government has continued to prioritise major road projects nationwide, including key highway developments aimed at improving transportation networks and supporting economic growth.
However, the funding gap has raised concerns about the pace of project execution, with stakeholders noting that delayed releases continue to affect completion timelines for critical infrastructure.
