- Public policy analyst Waziri Adio questioned the Federal Government’s allocation of ₦146.14 billion for the Lagos Green Line Metro Rail project
- Adio criticized other budget provisions, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in public spending to maintain citizen trust
Waziri Adio, a public policy analyst and founder of Agora Policy, has questioned the Federal Government’s allocation of ₦146.14 billion in the proposed 2025 budget for the Lagos Green Line Metro Rail Phase 1.
In his weekly column in THISDAY on Sunday, Adio labelled the budgetary provision “curious,” particularly as it involves transferring funds to the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) as counterpart funding. He argued that this raises serious concerns about transparency and necessity.
Adio noted that the allocation represents 65% of the capital budget and 57% of the entire Ministry of Transport budget, asking why such a significant amount is directed toward a state-specific project.
He queried, “If this is counterpart funding from a recapitalized MOFI, why is it coming from the federal ministry’s budget? Why can’t MOFI raise the funding from the market? How was this project selected for federal investment, and will similar opportunities be available to other states?”
Adio also criticized several other provisions in the 2025 budget, describing them as lacking necessity, regeneration value, or transparency.
He highlighted the proposed ₦238.05 billion allocation for a hospital for the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), contrasting it with the ₦653.61 billion capital budget for the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Similarly, he questioned the ₦50 billion earmarked for a Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) building. He noted that the agency already receives 4% of tax collections and will likely have a budget nearing half a trillion naira.
Additionally, Adio raised concerns about the ₦761.97 billion listed as a one-line item for “Special Projects.”
Adio also pointed to the lack of transparency around the funding for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the presidential jet purchase, which he could not locate in the budget documents.
He wrote, “Citizens deserve to know how public funds are used and the processes ensuring value for money. Public spending should not be a matter of speculation or gossip.”
He further stressed the need for accountability: “No public funds should be spent without proper appropriation and transparency. In a democracy, these principles are essential to uphold trust and ensure democratic stewardship.”