By Emmanuel Kwada
The Nigerian National Assembly has come under intense scrutiny following revelations that the 2025 national budget includes an allocation of ₦393.29 billion for the installation of 1,477 streetlights across federal constituencies and senatorial districts.
This translates to an staggering average cost of ₦266.25 million per streetlight, prompting widespread public outcry and accusations of budget padding.
According to a report by BudgIT Nigeria, a civic organization focused on budget transparency, the allocation for streetlights is part of a broader ₦6.9 trillion set aside for constituency projects in the 2025 budget.
Are we installing the sun?
The report highlighted the exorbitant cost per streetlight, with BudgIT sarcastically questioning on X, “Are we installing the sun?” The figure has fueled debates about fiscal responsibility and transparency in Nigeria’s budgeting process, with many citizens and analysts labeling the allocation as grossly inflated.
The streetlights vendor confidently confirmed that the streetlights cost averagely between ₦90,000 to ₦200,000.
Kalu Aja echoed the sentiment, stating on X, “With the amount of ‘streetlights’ in this 2025 budget, Nigeria is supposed to be the Light of the World.” He emphasized that the ₦266 million per streetlight is unjustifiable, pointing to deeper issues in Nigeria’s spending priorities.
Further analysis by BudgIT and other sources revealed additional questionable allocations in the budget, including ₦114.53 billion for 538 boreholes (averaging ₦212.88 million per borehole) and ₦505.79 billion for 2,122 ICT projects (averaging ₦449.9 million per project). Critics argue that these figures reflect a pattern of mismanagement, with agencies like the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, being assigned projects outside their technical expertise, such as utility vehicles and rural electrification.
Our leaders are not after our well-being
Public reactions on X have been fierce, with users like @TheSerahIbrahim expressing disbelief: “They are collecting ₦266 MILLION for 1 streetlight. The total money for the 1,477 streetlights is ₦400 BILLION.” Others, such as @OjiUgo_nwa, questioned the nature of the streetlights, asking if they were “divine light” given the astronomical cost.
According to BudgIT’s analysis, lawmakers often control the execution of these projects with minimal community consultation, leading to inefficiencies and potential corruption.
The ₦54.99 trillion 2025 budget, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on February 28, 2025, has been criticized by the World Bank as overly ambitious, with warnings of potential revenue shortfalls necessitating borrowing or reliance on the Central Bank’s Ways and Means facility.
As Nigerians grapple with a high cost of living and economic challenges, the streetlight allocation has become a symbol of misplaced priorities. “Our leaders are not after our well-being,” one X user lamented, reflecting a broader sentiment of frustration. The controversy underscores ongoing calls for greater transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s budgetary process.
The National Assembly has yet to issue an official response to the growing backlash, but the issue is expected to dominate public discourse as citizens demand explanations for the unprecedented streetlight costs.
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