Ebonyi State’s latest published Citizens Accountability Report raises an important question about public spending: how much of the money budgeted for development actually translated into completed projects?
The report, published on September 29, 2026, records capital expenditure of approximately ₦159.86 billion against a capital budget of ₦388.41 billion for 2025. That represents execution of 41.16 per cent.
The report’s review of the ten highest-value capital projects is equally revealing. Only two were completed during the year. Six remained ongoing, one was at inception stage and one had not commenced as of December 31, 2025.
Consider three examples.
The Nkalagu Cement Factory project had a budget of ₦10 billion, but recorded expenditure of only ₦30 million 0.3 per cent with the project still at inception stage.
The proposed Iron and Steel Industry also had a ₦10 billion budget, but recorded no expenditure and had not commenced.
A planned 230KVA transformer line across the state had a budget of approximately ₦29.60 billion, against recorded expenditure of about ₦3.64 billion, or 12.30 per cent.
These figures do not prove that money was diverted. They do, however, demand explanations about implementation, procurement, funding and contractor performance. They also describe project positions at the end of 2025; the government must provide updated physical and financial status reports for 2026.
There is another problem. Different sections of the published report present conflicting aggregate expenditure totals. One gives actual expenditure of ₦253.45 billion against a final budget of ₦509.98 billion; another table gives ₦281.94 billion against ₦536.68 billion. The report does not reconcile these figures in the tables reviewed.
The Office of the State Auditor-General and the Finance Ministry should publish a clear reconciliation.
Ebonyi has reported completed projects, including Abakaliki internal roads and the revitalisation of 96 primary healthcare centres. Those achievements should be acknowledged. But they do not remove the need to explain delayed projects and inconsistent financial reporting.
The State Assembly should demand updated project schedules, contractor details, payment records and physical verification.
A large budget is not proof of development. Completed, usable projects and financial records that add up are the evidence citizens deserve.
By Viewers Corner News