Residents and opposition parties in Borno State have demanded an independent investigation into the inclusion of a non-existent ₦4 billion railway project in the state’s 2025 budget implementation report.
The controversy began after the Borno State Government admitted that the project, which was listed as 100 per cent completed, was included in the report due to an administrative error.
The Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar, said a review by relevant ministries confirmed that no railway project was awarded, funded, or executed by the state government in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere Local Government Area during the 2025 fiscal year.
He explained that consultations with the Ministry of Budget, Ministry of Transport and Energy, and other agencies found no record of any rail construction project.
Opposition groups, however, rejected the explanation and called for a full investigation by anti-corruption agencies.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress Publicity Secretary in Borno, Aliyu Balarabe, urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter.
He questioned how a multi-billion-naira project could appear in an official budget document as completed if it was never executed.
The African Democratic Party spokesperson in the state, Baba Mustapha, also described the situation as unacceptable, saying public funds must be accounted for.
Some residents expressed concern, arguing that if the ₦4 billion figure was an error, the accuracy of the entire budget expenditure report should also be reviewed.
They demanded transparency and accountability from the state government over the issue.
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