Borno Govt Denies Spending N4bn On Unexecuted Railway Project
The Borno State Government has dismissed reports alleging that it approved and spent N4 billion on a railway construction project in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere Local Government Area, describing the claims as inaccurate and misleading.
The state Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman A. Tar, made the clarification in a statement issued on Monday, following reports circulating in some media platforms alleging that the funds were released for a rail project that was never executed.
Tar said the state government, after consultations with the Ministry of Budget, Ministry of Transport and Energy, and other relevant stakeholders involved in the procurement process, established that no railway construction project was awarded, funded, or executed by the government during the 2025 fiscal year.
He explained that no approval was obtained from the State Executive Council, no budget clearance was secured, no contract was awarded, and no funds were released for any railway project within the period under review.
According to the commissioner, projects of such magnitude must undergo established procedures, including formal proposal, Executive Council approval, budget clearance, contract award, and eventual release of funds, none of which took place regarding any rail project in 2025.
He, however, acknowledged that the inclusion of a railway project entry in the 2025 Budget Implementation Report, showing 100 per cent completion, was an administrative error and did not represent the actual situation.
Tar said the project was neither executed nor paid for, adding that relevant stakeholders had been contacted and measures were being taken to correct the records and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The Borno State Government reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and due process in the management of public resources, while appreciating citizens, civil society groups, and stakeholders for their vigilance in promoting good governance.
