Nigerians Miffed over N393 Billion Streetlight Allocation in 2025 Budget

Nigerians have expressed surprise over revelations that the National Assembly has earmarked N393.29 billion for streetlight initiatives in the 2025 national budget.

This sum encompasses 1,477 projects distributed across federal constituencies and senatorial districts, averaging N266.4 million per project.

These figures were unveiled in a recent report by BudgIT, Nigeria’s civic tech organization devoted to fostering transparency, citizen engagement, and accountability in public finance.

The organization’s analysis concentrated on the amendments introduced by the National Assembly in the 2025 budget, revealing the extent and fragmentation of constituency and zonal projects throughout the nation.

According to the report, legislators inserted a total of N653.19 billion worth of projects within federal constituencies, and an additional N444.04 billion in senatorial districts—figures reflecting the contributions of Nigeria’s 469 federal lawmakers (comprising 109 senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives).

These projects, frequently introduced under the zonal intervention or constituency project scheme, are intended to foster grassroots development but have consistently attracted public scrutiny regarding execution, cost, and value.

Following the report’s release, Nairametrics examined social media, particularly reactions to BudgIT’s disclosure, to assess how Nigerians are responding to the substantial funds allocated for streetlighting.

The reactions provide insight into public sentiment concerning spending priorities, legislative accountability, and the broader trajectory of national development.

BudgIT Nigeria, via its official X account, highlighted the N393.29 billion allocated for 1,477 streetlight projects in the 2025 budget, noting that the average cost of N266 million per project appeared excessively inflated, and sarcastically questioned whether Nigeria was “installing the sun” given the scale and cost of the provision.

“With the amount of ‘Streetlights’ in this 2025 budget, Nigeria is supposed to be the Light of the World. 1,477 Streetlights for N393.29 billion.

That’s N266 MILLION per light. Are we installing the sun?” — BudgIT Nigeria on X (@BudgITng) Uwem Ekpo, a professor, responded to BudgIT’s post via X by recounting a failed streetlight project on Fajol-Agegunle Road in Abeokuta, which, according to him, has never functioned since its installation.

He added that solar streetlights are now being set up to replace the non-functional ones, describing it as a striking example of the country’s alarming waste of public funds.

“The electrified street light installed and commissioned on Fajol-Agegunle road in Abeokuta has never worked for one day.

Now they are also installing solar street lights to replace it. The amount of waste of public funds in this country is unbelievable.” TreelessHill, a Nigerian commenting on X, drew from personal experience, stating that the streetlights installed in front of his private residence cost less than N250,000 each.

He noted having two such lights, suggesting that the N266 million average per project in the national budget was wildly disproportionate.

“The street lights I got in front of my private residence are not up to N250000, I got 2 in front of my building.” Today’s History (@Olusola8), responding on X, expressed deep concern over the approval of N266 million per streetlight project. He questioned the logic and legitimacy behind such a figure, deeming it outrageous and insane that such costs were sanctioned in the budget.

“This is a serious concern for Nigerians. What is the cost of mounting a street light? In what country can a contractor use N266 MILLION to mount a streetlight? It is outrageous and insane to approve this as a budget.” Big Deraa042, commenting on X, criticized the National Assembly’s allocation for streetlights, expressing frustration that oversight agencies like the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seem to overlook such revelations. He called for Nigerians to awaken to these issues.

“What is really wrong with @nassnigeria, this criminality needs to end, sadly @icpcnigeria and @officialEFCC turn the other way when revelation like this comes out… #NigeriansWakeUp” frustration that leaders seem disconnected from the people’s welfare. He questioned how a single streetlight installation could possibly cost N266 million.

“Our leaders are not after our well-being, because tell me how one streetlight will cost N266 million to install.” Frank (@_Bigsub), commenting on X, questioned the consistency and transparency of streetlight funding over the years. He requested data on streetlight projects from the previous year and the last government, underscoring concerns that some areas receiving billions are being funded again within a span of less than three years.

“Can you give us data for streetlight for last year, and last govt., if possible, some areas that got billions are getting it again in not up to 3 years.”