Principal officers of Nigeria’s Senate have allocated billions of naira in constituency projects to themselves within the 2024 budget, as uncovered by Premium Times.
These projects, dubbed Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIP), are meant to fuel development across the 109 senatorial districts nationwide, but the implications of these allocations raise eyebrows.
The report highlights that Senate President Godswill Akpabio, representing the North-West Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State, earmarked an eye-watering ₦4.142 billion for projects confined to his own constituency. Such a hefty sum begs the question: how will these funds translate into real change for the community?
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin’s Kano North Senatorial District also received a hefty share, alongside other influential Senate figures. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Deputy Senate Leader Oyelola Ashiru, former Chief Whip Ali Ndume, Minority Leader Abba Moro, and Deputy Minority Leader Oyewunmi Olalere emerged as some of the primary beneficiaries of this windfall.
However, the enthusiasm surrounding these allocations is tempered by growing concerns over transparency and accountability. Many projects are shrouded in ambiguity, with descriptions and locations appearing vague or even dubious, hiding behind obscure sub-headings in the budget.
Shockingly, the budget document fails to clarify if these lawmakers themselves nominated the projects, despite its strategic placement within their own constituencies.
Barau Jibrin (Kano North)
PREMIUM TIMES identified several projects worth billions of naira whose specific locations are unclear.
For instance, ₦250 million was allocated for the “Construction of rural roads in some selected communities in Kano State”.
The local government areas and specific communities where the project will be sited were not stated. Several others were not credited to any communities.
The projects and their costs are:
-₦190 million for “Human Capital Development and Strategic Empowerment with Capital and Motorcycles in Kano State.
Audience Survey
-₦250 million for “Provision of Solar Borehole in various wards in Dala LGA, Kano State.”
-₦60 million for construction of classrooms in Kadawa Ungogo LGA, Kano State.
– ₦20 million for “Training and employment of youth and women and supply of sewing machines in Gwarzo/Kabo LGAs of Kano State”.
Mr Jibrin is from Kano State and the deputy senate president.
Barau’s clear project
The review showed that only one project was clearly allocated to Mr Jibirin’s Kano North. The project is:
-₦190 million for “Provision of empowerment items to farmers to boost dry season farming, traders and other artisans (LOT 1&2) in Kano North Senatorial District”. The project is listed under NBRRI.
Bamidele Opeyemi (Ekiti Central)
Six projects worth ₦1.472 billion were allocated to the Ekiti Central Senatorial District, which Mr Opeyemi represents.
However, the only difference here is that the projects have locations, even though some are under irrelevant government agencies.
Projects listed for Mr Opeyemi’s constituency are:
-₦200 million for “Supply of education materials to students in selected schools in Ekiti Central Senatorial District.” The project is listed under Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan.
-₦150 million for “Grants for unemployed youths and women in selected areas of Ekiti Central Senatorial District.”
-₦200 million for “Procurement of agric inputs and employment of farmers in Ekiti Central Senatorial District.”
-₦232 million for “Provision of agric food farm inputs and empowerment for youths and women in Ekiti Central Senatorial District.”
-₦218 million for “Provision of agric and farm inputs for cooperatives in Irepodun/Ifelodun and Ijero LGAs of Ekiti Central Senatorial District.”
-₦250 million for “Provision of agric and farm inputs for cooperatives in Ado, Efon, and Ekiti-west LGAs of Ekiti Central Senatorial District.”
-₦222 million for “Capacity building training and supply of sewing machines, block moulding machines, cassava grinding machines and pepper grinding machines for artisans in selected areas of Ekiti Central Senatorial District.”
Oyelola Ashiru (Kwara South)
Eleven projects worth ₦1.8 billion were allocated to Kwara South Senatorial District, which Mr Ashiru represents.
Like Mr Bamidele, some projects here are listed under irrelevant organisations for execution.
They are:
-₦250 million for “Construction of community road in Ayaba area of Essa Ward in Kwara South, Kwara South Senatorial District”. The project is listed under the main ministry.
-₦250 million for “Construction and equipping of ICT centres in selected communities of Kwara South Senatorial District”. The project is listed under the National Productivity Centre.
-₦100 million for “Construction and rehabilitation of rural road and pavement in Popo Market, Offa, Kwara South (PHASE 2)”. The project is listed under the National Productivity Centre.
-₦100 million for “Renovation and equipping of Esie/Iludun Secondary School in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara South”. The project is listed under the National Productivity Centre.
-₦100 million for “Renovation of Oro Ago, Omupo, Erinle-Ile, Omu-Aran and Ajasse Kinship’s palace in Kwara South.” The project is listed under the National Productivity Centre.
-₦200 million for “Medical outreach for disabled and elderly people in selected areas of Kwara South Senatorial District”. The project is listed under Aquatictic Bio-Resources Training Centre Tunari, Taraba State.
-₦100 million for “Provision of medical supplies to Primary Health Care and Maternity Centres in Kwara South Senatorial District”. The project is listed under Aquatictic Bio-Resources Training Centre Tunari, Taraba State.
-₦100 million for “Construction of motorised boreholes across communities in Isin Local Government area of Kwara South Senatorial District”. The project is listed under Niger RBDA.
Ali Ndume (Borno South)
Three projects worth ₦722 million were allocated to the Borno South Senatorial District, which Mr Ndume represents.
The controversial senator has lost his Senate Whip position to Tahir Monguno (Borno North) after he fiercely criticised President Bola Tinubu’s policies.
The projects his constituency benefitted from are:
-₦500 million for “Construction of roads, drainages and culverts in Borno South Senatorial District. The project is listed under Housing.
-₦122 million for “Provision of tricycle pick up vans in Borno South Senatorial District, Borno State. The project is listed under the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology Zaria (NARICT)
-₦100 million for “Provision of tricycle (Keke NAPEP) in Borno South Senatorial District, Borno State. The project is listed under the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Zaria. (NARICT)
Abba Moro (Benue South)
Eight projects worth N1.180 billion were allocated to Benue South Senatorial District, which Mr Moro represents.
Mr Moro became the minority leader a few months after the Court of Appeal sacked its former occupant, Simon Mwadkwon.
Like Mr Bamidele, some projects here are listed under irrelevant organisations.
They are:
-₦200 million for “Electrification of Uwokwu, Benue South Senatorial District”. The project is listed under Bio-Resources Development Centre, Makurdi.
-₦50 million for “Completion of Ublegbe-Odebe-Otto electrification Ogbadigbo, Benue South Senatorial District”. The project is under the Bio-Resources Development Centre, Makurdi.
-₦20 million for “Completion of Ago electrification of Ogbadigbo LGA, Benue South Senatorial District “. The project is under the Bio-Resource Development Centre, Makurdi.
-₦500 million for “Training of Youths in Agricultural value chain skills acquisition in Benue South Senatorial District”. The project is under SHEDA.
-₦200 million for the “Construction of internal road in Ugbokolo using Interlocking blocks Okpokwu LGA, Benue South Senatorial District”. This project is listed under BCDA.
-₦20 million for “Completion of Ekpemgbe electrification, Ado LGA Benue South Senatorial District “. The project is under BCDA.
-₦140 million for “Purchase of drugs for various health care centres in Benue South Senatorial District”. The project is under BCDA.
-₦50 million for “Emergency repairs on a 12KM road Aikpla-Ihilikpa, Benue South Senatorial District”. The project is under BCDA.
Oyewunmi Olalere (Osun West)
Six projects worth ₦1.130 billion were allocated to the Osun West Senatorial District, which Mr Oyeunmi represents.
They are:
-₦200 million for “Provision of solar street lights in Iwo, Ede and Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun West Senatorial District.”
The project is listed under NBRRI.
-₦200 million for “Grants to vulnerable people, widows, and aged-people and physically challenged in Osun West Senatorial District, Osun State”. The project is listed under the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, Ilorin (NSPRI).
-₦100 million for “Purchase and distribution of motorcycles to youths in Ola-Oluwa, Isokan and Ejigbo local government areas of Osun West Senatorial District, Osun State”. The project is listed under the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, Ilorin (NSPRI).
-₦230 million for “Solar powered street lights in selected communities in Osun West Senatorial District”. The project is listed under the National Institute for Construction Technology and Management, Uromi.
-₦300 million for “Purchase and distribution of korope buses, and motorcycles to transport workers in selected communities of Osun West Senatorial District, Osun State”. The project is listed under the Nigerian Institute of Construction Technology and Management, Uromi.
-₦200 million for “Supply and installation of transformers at Ejigbo, Owode, Gbogan, Apomu and other critical areas in Osun West Senatorial District, Osun State”. The project is listed under the National Centre for Energy and Environment.
