Tracka Federal Projects Report Uncovers Fraudulent Practices

Tracka, a civic technology platform that monitors public projects, has revealed that billions of naira allocated to federal projects in Nigeria were never executed, abandoned, or delivered fraudulently.

The group disclosed its findings in a new report titled “The People and Government Oversight: Connecting the Dots in Service Delivery,” launched in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to Tracka, it monitored 2,760 capital projects across 30 states over 13 months. The projects formed part of the N2.26 trillion allocation under the 2024 federal budget.

For more on Nigeria’s national budget process, visit the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning: Here

Key Findings from the Audit

Tracka’s investigation uncovered widespread execution failures:

28.8% of tracked projects, valued at about N219 billion, were never executed despite funds being released.
The highest number of unexecuted projects appeared in Benue, Ondo, Kwara, Akwa Ibom, and Sokoto states.
Authorities abandoned projects worth N7.8 billion, particularly in Taraba, Abia, Adamawa, and Ogun states.

The report also found that 57.1% of projects suffered fraudulent delivery. Contractors allegedly diverted funds, delivered substandard work, or failed to complete projects properly. Tracka estimated that about N8.61 billion went into poorly executed projects in Imo, Lagos, Kwara, and Ogun.

Dam Projects Raise Red Flags

The report reviewed 16 dam projects across 13 states, valued at N432 million.

Tracka found that:

None of the dam projects had been completed.
Four were abandoned.
Six showed slow progress.
Six had not started despite receiving funding.

The findings raise concerns about water infrastructure and agricultural planning in affected communities.

Primary Healthcare Centres and Niger Delta Projects

Tracka also assessed 47 primary healthcare centres (PHCs):

Only 26 showed measurable improvement.
12 remained under construction.
Eight operated in deteriorating conditions despite allocated funds.

In the Niger Delta region, Tracka tracked 48 projects across four states:

29 projects were completed.
Four were ongoing.
Two could not be traced.
13 had not started despite funds reportedly released.

Transparency and Planning Concerns

Tracka identified vague project descriptions as a major obstacle to accountability. Many projects lacked clear locations, which made monitoring difficult for citizens and civil society groups.

Speaking at the report launch, Tracka Head Osiyemi Joshua said weak planning and poor transparency continue to undermine public investment. He stressed that agencies often implement projects outside their mandates and fail to provide proper handover processes.

BudgIT Executive Director Oluseun Onigbinde added that contractors abandoned or poorly delivered nearly 40 percent of tracked projects. He argued that Nigeria spends heavily but plans weakly, making value for money difficult to achieve.

Onigbinde called for stronger legislative oversight, increased citizen participation, and greater media scrutiny. These measures, he noted, will improve accountability in public spending.

Why This Matters

Nigeria continues to face economic pressure, rising debt levels and growing demands for infrastructure. Experts say effective project monitoring remains critical to ensure taxpayers receive value for public funds.

The Tracka report highlights persistent structural challenges in service delivery and raises fresh questions about transparency in the execution of the 2024 federal budget.