A civic accountability platform, MonITng, has expressed concerns regarding a controversial allocation in the 2025 Nigerian government budget. The President Bola Tinubu-led administration has earmarked ₦3 billion for the provision of solar streetlights in the South-South region, a decision that has raised eyebrows.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, MonITng highlighted the project, coded ERGP20261928, titled: Provision/Installation of Modern Digital Solar Streetlights in Selected Locations of South-South Geo-Political Zones of Nigeria (Lot 1-6).
The implementation of this project has been assigned to the Nigerian Film Corporation under the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy (@Fmactce_Nigeria).
MonITng questioned the appropriateness of this allocation, pointing out that the Nigerian Film Corporation, which was established to promote and develop the film industry, should not be responsible for delivering solar streetlight projects.
This raises critical questions about the sincerity of budget planning and implementation in Nigeria,
the organization stated.
Why is an agency focused on film suddenly tasked with a project unrelated to its mandate? This is not only suspicious but also a clear example of how public funds may be diverted into untrackable projects.
The organization further criticized the project for its lack of clarity
The project description is deliberately vague. Which communities in the South-South are to benefit from these solar streetlights? Which states are involved in the implementation? How can citizens monitor a project whose details are shrouded in secrecy? Without transparency, this initiative risks becoming a drain on public resources.
MonITng highlighted the pressing infrastructure issues in the South-South region, stating,
It is even more disturbing when we consider the state of basic infrastructure. Schools are collapsing, health facilities are in ruins, and roads remain in terrible condition, yet ₦3 billion is being allocated for streetlights that are often poorly installed and overpriced.
The organization questioned the justification for such expenditure, asking,
What exactly is ‘modern’ and ‘digital’ about these solar streetlights? Nigerians have seen repeated patterns of inflated budgets for streetlights, questionable execution, and little to no real benefit to the populace.
MonITng also connected the issue to broader governance concerns, stating,
This is happening under the leadership of Senate President @Senator_Akpabio, while the country continues to borrow heavily. How do we justify borrowing funds tied to projects that serve no real purpose? This is a betrayal of public trust and a misuse of scarce national resources.
In conclusion, MonITng urged anti-corruption agencies to take immediate action.
We call on @icpcnigeria and @officialEFCC to investigate this allocation, demand transparency regarding the exact communities and states for the project, and hold accountable those responsible for this budgetary fraud. Public funds must be utilized to enhance schools, hospitals, and infrastructure that genuinely improve lives, rather than to finance dubious solar streetlight projects that facilitate corrupti
