N3Billion Solar Streetlight: Group Questions Why Nigerian Film Corporation Is Implementing Project, Laments Locations Not Identified | Sahara Reporters

According to the platform, the Nigerian Film Corporation is listed as the implementing agency for the project, which carries the code ERGP20261928 and has an allocation of ₦3 billion.

A civic accountability platform, MonITNG, has raised concerns over a ₦3 billion solar streetlight project budgeted by the Federal Government for the South-South geopolitical zone, alleging that the budget provision does not identify the specific locations or communities where the projects are expected to be implemented.

The platform, in a statement on Monday, said the project is titled “Provision/Installation of Modern Digital Solar Street Light in Selected Locations of South South Geo-Political Zones of Nigeria (Lot 1–6)” and is captured under the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy.

According to the platform, the Nigerian Film Corporation is listed as the implementing agency for the project, which carries the code ERGP20261928 and has an allocation of ₦3 billion.

The disclosure has prompted questions from the civic group about the rationale for assigning the implementation of a major solar streetlight project to an agency whose primary mandate is connected to Nigeria’s film industry.

“Why is the Nigerian Film Corporation implementing a ₦3 billion solar streetlight project?” the platform asked.

It also questioned the relationship between the proposed infrastructure project and the statutory responsibilities of the Nigerian Film Corporation.

“What is the connection between installing streetlights and the core mandate of an agency established to develop Nigeria’s film industry?” it asked.

Beyond the issue of the implementing agency, MonITNG expressed concern over what it described as a lack of publicly available information on the locations and beneficiaries of the proposed streetlight installation.

The platform said the budget provision does not clearly indicate the states, local government areas or communities that are expected to benefit from the project.

It further demanded clarification on the number of streetlights to be installed in each location, the cost per streetlight, the contractors expected to execute the work and the criteria used to select the beneficiary locations.

“This is exactly the kind of opacity that fuels concerns about corruption and waste in Nigeria’s budget system,” the statement said.

According to the platform, a project with a financial commitment of ₦3 billion should contain sufficient details to enable citizens, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to track its implementation and determine whether public funds are being used for their intended purpose.

“A project worth ₦3 billion should not exist in the public budget as a vague line item with no clear list of beneficiaries,” it said.

However, MonITNG was careful not to conclusively describe the project as a “ghost project”, noting that such a classification would require further investigation and evidence that the projects do not exist or were never implemented.

“Calling these ‘ghost projects’ may ultimately prove to be premature unless investigations establish that the projects do not exist or were never implemented,” the platform said.

It nevertheless argued that the absence of publicly identifiable project locations and beneficiaries was sufficient reason for the relevant government institutions to provide detailed information about the project.

The platform called on the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, the Nigerian Film Corporation, the National Assembly, the Bureau of Public Procurement and anti-corruption agencies to publish comprehensive information about the project.

It specifically urged the concerned authorities to disclose where the solar streetlights would be installed and the communities expected to benefit from the ₦3 billion allocation.

“Nigerians want to know: WHERE exactly will these ₦3 billion solar streetlights be installed, and which communities will benefit?” the platform asked.

The group maintained that public budgets should be accessible to citizens, particularly where substantial amounts of public funds have been allocated to specific projects.

“Our budget is not a secret document. Every naira belongs to the Nigerian people,” it said.

The concerns raised by MonITNG come amid growing demands from civil society organisations and public accountability advocates for greater transparency in Nigeria’s budgeting and public procurement processes.

The platform’s questions centre on whether the proposed project has clearly defined beneficiaries, implementation locations, procurement arrangements and measurable deliverables that would allow citizens to monitor its execution.

It also raises the broader question of whether government agencies are being assigned projects that directly align with their statutory mandates and technical capacity.

The group further urged the relevant institutions to provide the necessary explanations and documentation to enable Nigerians to independently assess the rationale, procurement process and implementation plans for the project.

The platform said such disclosure would help address concerns surrounding the ₦3 billion allocation and ensure that public funds are subjected to appropriate scrutiny.