Secrets Reporters
A Cross River state’s project has once again got brows raised alongside questions that need answers. An allocation of millions of Naira for the execution of feasibility studies is no joke, even as rural communities in the state continue to battle with substandard health facilities, bad roads and poor quality drinking water.
A look into the state’s 2025 approved budget by SecretsReporters showed that in the 2024 revised budget, N100 million was allocated for feasibility studies on the Boje water supply project and in 2025 another N20 million was approved for the same project, which is a total of N120 million in the space of two years.
Another interesting finding into the budget showed a feasibility study for potential hydropower development sites for DAM construction, water supply, irrigation and electricity generation, yet with a lower budget of N25 million in 2024 revised budget and N50 million in 2025, which is way lower than the former. This also brings the amount for both projects to a total of N170 million.
Feasibility studies are known as preliminary investigation carried out by consultants to determine whether a project could be executed. This typically involves surveys, engineering assessments, environmental checks and financial budget.
Depending on the magnitude, a survey shows that a typical feasibility study for a state level water or energy projects in Nigeria, it usually cost between N10 million and N40 million.
These outlined projects are far above the normal ascertained range. N100 million in 2024 for the Boje water supply feasibility study and another 20 million Naira in 2025 for the same project are abnormal, so far with no report or explanation surfacing online to the public. This repeated budgeting suggests a duplication of the project.
While the hydropower feasibility studies for 2024 stands out with an allocation of N25 million, reflecting the expected price range, it also magically doubled to a whopping N50 million with no clear explanation given for the sudden increase.
This goes further to show the inconsistency in most of the Nigerian state’s government budget. The constant use of humanitarian programs, sensitization programs, capacity building programs and feasibility studies to inflate these budgets is gradually turning into a normalcy and with little or nothing to show at the end of the day.
A State Struggling
While these generous amounts of money are used for feasibility studies, many residents in Cross River state continue to live amidst substandard facilities and without the basic services.
In rural parts of the state, Primary health care centers are either, dilapidated, understaffed or unstocked. Several facilities lack drugs, electricity, and even clean water. In some cases, residents are left with no option than to travel long distances just to access something as basic as care.
Road infrastructure is also another issue in most communities. Dusty, muddy and slippery roads are the honors of the day especially during the rainy seasons. Passengers are forced to drop from their bikes and walk alongside the rider in order to avoid falling off the motorcycle.
In communities like Akpabuyo, Agbara, villages in Ekureku, and other local government areas, many roads are nothing to write home about.
Appearance of projects like these in the Cross River state’s budget is not unique across Nigerian state budgets. Feasibility studies and other vague projects are often added in budgets. Reports by organizations like BudgIt have repeatedly pointed out suspicious allocations under categories such as capacity building, awareness creation or feasibility study.
The sad reality is that, most of such projects keep been recycled every year with zero accountability and in some cases the budget for a feasibility study turns out to outweigh the budget for the actual project.