Opposition Calls for Investigation into Alleged 4 Billion-Naira Rail Project Mistake in Borno

Opposition parties and residents in Borno State have demanded an independent inquiry into the appearance of a ₦4 billion railway project that does not exist in the state’s 2025 budget implementation report.

The call for investigation comes after the Borno State Government admitted on Monday that the project, shown as 100 percent complete, had been added to the report by mistake.

Commissioner for Information and Internal Security Usman Tar explained that an internal review found no railway project had been awarded, funded, or carried out by the state government in the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council or Jere Local Government Area during the 2025 fiscal year.

“The inclusion of the rail project entry in the 2025 Budget Implementation Report, indicating 100 per cent completion, was an administrative error and does not reflect the true position of the matter as the said project was neither executed nor paid for,” Tar stated.

On Tuesday, Aliyu Balarabe, the Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Borno State, called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the issue.

“We see it as a lack of accountability and transparency in governance. There is no way something as serious as a state budget will have such errors. We are not talking about millions but billions of naira. If it is an error, where are the funds?” he queried.

Baba Mustapha, spokesperson for the Africa Democratic Congress in the state, described the incident as unfortunate and urged that it not be ignored.

“There should be an investigation. This money is public money and the issue should not be allowed to die down,” Baba said.

Residents also voiced skepticism about the government’s explanation, asking how a ₦4 billion project could have been mistakenly entered into an official budget report.

Hassan Aminu, a resident, demanded a reassessment of the state’s total expenditure, contending that the reported spending figures might have been distorted by the alleged mistake.

The controversy has reignited concerns about transparency and accountability in the handling of public funds by those entrusted with them.