The Federal Government has released about N2.68 trillion for the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of roads and bridges across Nigeria between 2023 and April 2026, according to findings from the Open Treasury Portal.
However, analysis of the data shows a wide gap between budgetary provisions and actual releases, with a total of N54.93 trillion earmarked for road-related projects within the period under review.
The figures highlight a growing emphasis on infrastructure development under successive budgets, alongside persistent challenges in capital project funding and implementation.
The development comes amid the ongoing Renewed Hope Media Tour by the Presidential Communications Team, aimed at showcasing key projects under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In 2023, road projects received a total budgetary allocation of N2.53 trillion, out of which N631.51 billion was released, representing an implementation rate of 24.95 per cent.
Breakdowns show that road construction got N280.14 billion from a N1.09 trillion allocation, while rehabilitation and repair works received N345.93 billion out of N1.42 trillion. Maintenance projects received N5.44 billion from N14.68 billion.
In 2024, allocations surged to N9.39 trillion, but actual releases stood at N784.60 billion, translating to an 8.36 per cent implementation rate. Road construction received N383.74 billion from N5.05 trillion, while rehabilitation got N384.49 billion out of N4.32 trillion. Maintenance received N16.37 billion from N18.18 billion.
The trend continued in 2025, when N7.22 trillion was budgeted for road infrastructure, but only N670.68 billion was released, representing a 9.29 per cent implementation rate.
Of this amount, N269.75 billion went to construction from a N3.42 trillion allocation, while rehabilitation received N400.94 billion from N3.80 trillion.
As of April 2026, the Federal Government had earmarked a record N35.79 trillion for road projects, the highest within the four-year period. However, only N597.08 billion had been released, representing just 1.67 per cent performance.
Within the 2026 figures, road construction was allocated N23.61 trillion, with N293.06 billion released, while rehabilitation got N300.80 billion from N12.03 trillion. Maintenance received N3.22 billion from N144.64 billion.
Treasury records show that N26.54 billion was released in April alone, leaving an outstanding balance of N23.32 trillion yet to be funded.
Overall, road construction consistently received the largest share of allocations, rising from N1.09 trillion in 2023 to N23.61 trillion in 2026, reflecting increased government focus on major highway projects.
Rehabilitation also recorded significant allocations, increasing from N1.42 trillion to N12.03 trillion over the same period. Maintenance, however, remained the least funded but showed the highest execution rate in some years, including over 90 per cent implementation in 2024.
In total, while N54.93 trillion was budgeted for road infrastructure between 2023 and April 2026, only N2.68 trillion was released, underscoring a widening gap between approvals and actual spending.
The Federal Government has maintained that it is prioritising major highway projects such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Road, and the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway, among others.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, recently disclosed that over 2,000 projects were inherited in 2023 and have been rolled over due to funding constraints. He also revealed that the government owed contractors about N2.2 trillion for certified works executed between 2024 and 2025.
Umahi added that limited capital releases have forced the ministry to re-scope and prioritise key infrastructure projects.
While budgetary commitments to road infrastructure continue to rise, analysts say the key challenge remains ensuring timely cash backing for approved projects to translate plans into completed roads across the country.
