The 2025 budget passed by the national assembly has a new expenditure component: N400 billion for light rail projects.

An analysis by TheCable shows that the sum was allocated to “light rail projects” in Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna and Kano states.

It is unclear how the expenditure item entered the budget as it was not in the N49.74 trillion appropriation bill President Bola Tinubu initially presented to a joint session of the senate and house of representatives on December 18, 2024.

On February 5, he sought an upward adjustment of N4.53 trillion, raising the proposal to N54.27 trillion.

By the time lawmakers approved the budget, they added another N719.5 billion, pushing the total to N54.99 trillion.

One notable addition to the national assembly’s version is N400 billion allocation to the new light rail projects in four states.

Light rail is a transit system designed for shorter, more frequent trips within a city or state, carrying a lighter passenger load compared to heavier rail systems like commuter or intercity trains.

Given the nature of light rail systems, their financing and construction are typically the responsibility of state governments.


However, in the final approved budget, lawmakers allocated N150 billion for Kano, N100 billion each for Ogun and Kaduna, and N50 billion for Lagos to fund the rail projects.

TWO ZONES TO BENEFIT

It is not clear if it is a loan or a grant, but this is different from the the plan to transfer N146.14 billion to Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) as counterpart funding for the Lagos Green Line Metro Rail Phase 1 contained in the initial budget.

This brings the provision for rail projects in Lagos state alone to N196.14 billion in the 2025 budget.

It is unclear if the federal government will still extend the funding to other states.

There are complaints of bias and marginalisation, and the latest allocation appears to favour two states in the north-west (Kano, Kaduna) and two in the south-west (Lagos, Ogun).

Depriest2020:
North West - South West.

tunjijones:
Make Una pity the east nau. Give them meaningful projects too.

Wealthoptulent:
DAPO ma da owo ilu mo Ti e oo

ma DA OLA PO oo

tunjijones:


Na owners of Nigeria be that for now.

He get one time whey south east and south south be dey lounge too. During Jonathan time.

Depriest2020:

Please tell me what Jonathan did for South-south and South-east?

Depriest2020:
North West - South West.

Seadogfellow:



Our Niger Delta people where una dey for this government?

I never see any tangible project yet in the region yet Ooooh my our oyel people

zero8zero:

Really.. there's no projects for SS region?, Are you living under a rock?, Mr Retard.

Seadogfellow:


Can you point me to one?