By The Pivot Investigations Desk
In what is being hailed as one of the boldest moves in Nigeria’s recent infrastructure history, the ICPC and the Works Ministry have jointly launched a special tracking exercise to audit 760 federal road projects across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The total contract value for these projects is reportedly more than ₦36 trillion.
The exercise, which began on 14 November 2025, aims at physical verification of project sites, performance assessments, and thorough scrutiny of contract records. Teams composed of ICPC investigators, engineers from the Works Ministry, and independent professionals — including members of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) — have already been deployed nationwide.
Why This Audit Matters
A test of credibility and accountability
For decades, Nigeria’s road-infrastructure sector has been plagued by complaints: abandoned contracts, inflated cost estimates, substandard work, missing link roads and stalled projects that sometimes linger for years. The new audit represents a test of whether the federal government — under mounting pressure to deliver on infrastructure promises — is serious about transparency and value for money.
The ICPC’s public statement framed the exercise as a “proactive, system-driven approach to safeguarding our national infrastructure investments.”
If carried out properly, the audit could expose whether contracts were overvalued, whether some projects were improperly awarded, or whether payments were made without corresponding work. It could also trigger enforcement actions, recovery of misused funds, and possibly a reshuffle of contractors.
760 projects — a vast undertaking
The scale of the audit is massive: 760 distinct projects, spread across all states, covering hundreds (possibly thousands) of kilometres of roads, bridges and related infrastructure. The complexity of verifying deliverables — sometimes in remote or difficult-to-reach areas — will be daunting. Yet, the nationwide deployment of mixed teams signals seriousness: this isn’t just a paper-audit; it is meant to be on-the-ground, site-by-site verification.
High stakes — financial, political, social
At ₦36 trillion — a figure equivalent to substantial proportions of Nigeria’s annual federal budget — the contracts under review represent a huge chunk of public spending. For a country with chronic infrastructure deficits, a failure to deliver on these projects means citizens lose out on roads, commerce, accessibility, and quality of life.
Politically, the audit could reveal accountability gaps that implicate high-ranking contractors, former and current officials, and possibly trigger public outcry or legal action. Socially, communities awaiting roads, bridges, and connectivity depend on results — not press releases.
The Origins: Why Now?
The decision to start this audit didn’t come out of the blue. In recent weeks, several events triggered renewed concern over road-project management:
The collapse of the Keffi Flyover in July 2025 — after a container-laden trailer struck part of the bridge — exposed structural fragility and raised questions about quality assurance and oversight.
Contractors across the country have been protesting outstanding payments — the government is reportedly owed an estimate of over ₦4 trillion in verified claims for executed works.
The leadership of the Works Ministry, under David Umahi, publicly invited both the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to verify all ongoing and completed road projects since the current administration took office.
In his remarks, the minister described the move as “the first of its kind,” stressing that the request had been submitted from the first day the current administration assumed office.
What the Audit Will Do — And What It Should Deliver
According to the ICPC, the audit will:
Physically visit project sites to verify existence and status.
Examine contract documents and compare them with on-site deliverables.
Assess cost vs output — checking whether the road built (or partially built) corresponds to the payment that was made.
Flag projects that are abandoned, incomplete, or substandard.
Trigger recovery of public funds from inflated or poorly executed contracts, or from fraud.
At the end of the field-work phase, the expectation is a consolidated national audit report. This report could become a landmark document — a baseline inventory of where Nigeria stands on road infrastructure obligations.
The Road Ahead: Opportunities and Risks
What could go right
Improved transparency & trust: A credible audit could restore public confidence in how road-project funds are managed.
Completion of abandoned projects: Many communities await roads that were started years ago but never finished. The audit could pressure contractors and the government to deliver.
Deterrence of future waste: If culprits are held accountable, future contracts may be awarded and executed with greater diligence.
Better infrastructure delivery: What started as a reactive audit could evolve into proactive oversight — benefiting citizens across the nation.
What could go wrong
Selective reporting or cover-ups: There’s a risk the audit might not publish full findings, or that influential contractors/officials get protected.
Delays in enforcement: Even if irregularities are found, slow legal or administrative follow-up could blunt impact.
Political interference: The scale and stakes of the audit may attract pressure or sabotage from powerful interest groups.
Public disappointment: Communities expecting immediate road delivery may get impatient. Without clear timelines or transparency, trust could erode.
Voices from the Ground: What Stakeholders Expect
Citizens and commuters want real roads — not just announcements. Many have complained of deteriorating federal roads, uncompleted bypasses, and pothole-ridden highways that have worsened travel and commerce.
Contractors — frustrated by delayed payments — are watching closely, hoping the audit will verify their claims so they can be paid. The government has given a payment deadline of 20 December 2025 for all verified contractors.
Accountability advocates and civil society organizations likely see this as a rare chance to hold authorities to account, demand transparency, and push for reforms in procurement and contract management.
On the other side, some contractors and politicians — possibly implicated — may resist full disclosure, hoping to shield previous deals or inflate costs again in future contracts.
What Nigeria Should Watch Out For — And Demands to Make
1. Full publication of the audit report — with project-by-project breakdowns, cost-vs-delivery data, and names of implicated contractors or officials.
2. Transparent follow-up actions — enforcement, contract cancellations, re-awards, fund recovery, or prosecution where necessary.
3. Timely feedback to communities — especially those who have waited years for road completion, so that citizens aren’t left in limbo or turned into collateral damage.
4. Institutionalisation of oversight — make such audits regular, not just reactive or occasional, to prevent recurring abuses.
5. Open dialogue with stakeholders — including civil society, contractors, state governments and communities — to build a system that promotes accountability and public good.
FINAL THOUGHT: A Chance for Real Change — If We Get This Right
This nationwide audit of 760 road projects is more than a headline. It is a potential turning point — an opportunity for Nigeria to demonstrate that public infrastructure can be built with integrity, delivered on time, and managed transparently. If the ICPC, Works Ministry, EFCC, and other stakeholders play their roles impartially, this could mark a new chapter for road infrastructure and public accountability.
If they fail — if the audit becomes yet another exercise in public relations — then the ₦36 trillion will have simply become another number disappeared into bureaucratic blackholes.
Nigeria is watching. Its citizens deserve better than announcements. They deserve real roads.
