.. Empowerment Gulps Over One-Third
… Education, Health, Infrastructure Neglected
The Federal Government has approved over ₦100 billion for Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIP), popularly called constituency projects, in the 2025 national budget, with Ogun, Kano, and Akwa Ibom states emerging as the biggest beneficiaries.
Figures from the Budget Office of the Federation and tracked by civic group TrackaNG show that Ogun State leads the pack with ₦8.44 billion, followed by Kano (₦6.46bn) and Akwa Ibom (₦5.34bn). Together, the three states cornered ₦20.2 billion, representing more than 20 percent of the entire ZIP allocation.
Other states with significant allocations include Abia (₦4.50bn), Kaduna (₦4.27bn), Gombe (₦3.86bn), Ebonyi (₦3.37bn), and Enugu (₦3.13bn).
At the lower end of the table are FCT (₦1.10bn), Jigawa, Katsina and Sokoto (₦1.42bn each), and Zamfara (₦1.52bn).
A sectoral breakdown of the constituency projects shows a heavy tilt toward empowerment schemes, which claimed ₦35.42bn (34.75%) of the entire ZIP budget.
Agriculture followed with ₦27.33bn (26.82%), while solar power projects received ₦10.60bn (10.40%).
In sharp contrast, critical sectors such as education and health—often at the centre of citizens’ demands for better funding—received only ₦10.20bn (10.01%) and ₦7.85bn (7.70%) respectively.
Infrastructure projects were the least prioritised, with roads getting ₦5.06bn, water ₦4.28bn, and electricity barely ₦1.18bn.
The dominance of empowerment projects—often described by civic groups as politically motivated handouts with little long-term value—has reignited debate about the relevance of constituency projects.
TrackaNG and other civil society organisations have called on citizens to monitor ZIP implementation in their communities and hold lawmakers accountable to ensure the funds are not wasted.
“Lawmakers must prioritise projects that deliver sustainable development rather than short-term giveaways,” TrackaNG warned, urging Nigerians to demand transparency in project execution.
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