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Daud Olatunji
Despite having received an incredible N224.1 billion N224.1 billion as a federal allocation between January and February 2025, the six were in the south-western region: Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti, continue to face the growing public frustration for the dilapidated infrastructure, the hunger and the deterioration of the living conditions.
The Times platform reports that an analysis of the delivery data obtained from Budgit, a civic-tech organization, shows that the six were collectively received n111.4 billion in January and n112.7 billion in February, but the roads tell a different story: despair, public services in bankruptcy and an increasingly placed population.
The Times platform also reports that the faults of federal allocations show that the state of Lagos, the economic capital of Nigeria, has emerged as the highest recipient with N84.03 billion in the two months: N38.88 billion in January and N45.14 billion in February.
Despite this, the residents of many parts of the state continue to complain about poor road networks, the increase in food costs and overcrowded health structures.
The state of Oyo followed the state of Lagos with a total of n30.63 billion – n13.68 billion in January and n16.95 billion in February.
According to reports, several state communities are fighting with poor drainage systems and inaccessible rural roads, even if the prices of basic foods rise.
The State of Ondo received a total of N28.05 billion – n12.61 billion in January and n15.44 billion in February. Public indignation is growing in some parts of Akure and other urban centers on abandoned projects and supply of epileptic electricity.
The state of Osun has collected n20.29 billion, including N9.01 billion in January and n11.28 billion in February. However, many public schools remain under -childhood, with teachers who complain about wage delays and poor learning environments.
The state of Ekiti received n18.51 billion in the two months: N8.66 billion in January and N9.84 billion in February.
Despite this, road infrastructures remain visibly crumbled in many areas of the local government, while small farmers denovate the increase in the cost of inputs.
Ogun State, who obtained N18.07 billion – N8.56 billion in January and N9.51 billion in February – is facing similar challenges.
Residents in community such as IFO, Ado-Aodo and parts of Abeokuta have denounced the worsening of traffic conditions and the state of the public health centers.
The cumulative allocation for all six states of the region in the two -month period stands at N224.045.121.820.12.
Despite this influx of funds, the groups of civil society and analysts of public policies claim that the impact on the life of citizens remains negligible.
Speaking with the Times platform, a lawyer for civil rights and a public finance analyst, Banji Adendrano, expressed dismay for what he described as “a classic case of revenue without responsibility”.
“How can it be paid over n224 billion in just six in two months and yet people are still cooking with burning wood, sleeping in the darkness or traveling on roads with the hole?” He asked.
“Governors in the Southwest must explain where this money is going.”
In many markets throughout the region, the increase in the cost of Garri, rice, beans and other basic elements continues to bite hard.
The merchants of Lagos, Abeokuta and Ibadan complained that sales have significantly decreased due to a drop in purchasing power.
The interested parties now ask for greater transparency in the implementation of the budget and in the inclusive governance of citizens.
Budgit, in his latest Brief of tax responsibility, urged state governments to publish detailed expenditure relationships and projects of projects, in particular because the difficulties bit more at national level.
In addition, some residents took social media to request audit of monthly allocations received from state governments, with the hashtags #whereisthemoney and #trackthefunds who earn traction.
While the Nigerian government continues to advertise fiscal federalism as the strength of the democratic system, many citizens are left to ask themselves why their quality of life does not reflect the billions channeled in the state coffers.
With over N224 billion disbursement in just 60 days, the questions continue to assemble: where are the money and when the people of the South-West will start to feel their impact?
For now, the disconnection between allocation and visible development remains a source of growing anger in a region historically known for its political awareness and civic commitment.
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