Features
Lawmakers under fire for misaligned 2025 zonal intervention projects
Written By: Emmanuel Ikhenebome
07 Sep 2025 08:30 AM
Abuja, Nigeria – A wave of criticism has erupted against three Abuja lawmakers—Senator Ireti Kingibe (FCT Senatorial District), Rep. Ajiya Abdulrahman (Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kwali/Kuje), and Rep. Joshua Obika (AMAC/Bwari)—for their handling of the 2025 Zonal Intervention Projects.
A post on X by @MonITNG alleges that the lawmakers failed to conduct proper needs assessments with constituents, resulting in over ₦1.1 billion allocated to projects accused of serving political patronage rather than addressing the dire needs of Abuja’s satellite communities.
According to the post, the state of education, water, and healthcare in areas like Abaji, Kwali, and Gwagwalada remains deplorable. Many schools suffer from overcrowding, dilapidated classrooms, and a lack of essential facilities like libraries and laboratories.
Primary health centers are reportedly under-equipped, lacking drugs, medical equipment, and personnel. Access to clean water remains a critical issue, with communities relying on unsafe streams and wells.
These pressing challenges, the post argues, should have guided the lawmakers’ project nominations but were largely ignored.
Instead, the 2025 budget allocations include ₦150 million for solar streetlights in selected communities and ₦100 million for lighting Apo Legislators Quarters.
Other allocations include ₦100 million for vehicles for traditional rulers, ₦75 million for distributing household items, and significant sums—₦87 million and ₦187 million in different constituencies—for youth and women “empowerment” programs.
Additionally, ₦100 million was set aside for grain distribution. Critics argue these projects prioritize short-term visibility over sustainable development.
Education and health received minimal attention. Only ₦25 million was allocated for 35 desktop computers at Orozo Secondary School, ₦50 million for “educational grants” to indigent students, and ₦50 million for a one-off medical outreach.
These token gestures, according to @MonITNG, fall short of addressing the systemic need for renovated schools, new classrooms, and robust healthcare facilities capable of serving thousands.
Further controversy surrounds the allocation of these projects to agencies outside the Federal Capital Territory’s (FCT) service delivery framework.
The College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology in Vom, Plateau State, the Federal College of Horticulture in Gombe, and the Cooperative College in Oji River have been tasked with implementing FCT projects.
This unusual arrangement has raised concerns about accountability and potential fund diversion.
The allegations have sparked outrage among residents and observers, who argue that constituency projects should address critical gaps in public services, not serve as tools for political loyalty.
“Abuja deserves better,” @MonITNG
stated, calling for lawmakers to prioritize genuine needs assessments and channel resources into schools, hospitals, and water systems in satellite towns.
Efforts to reach Senator Kingibe, Rep. Abdulrahman, and Rep. Obika for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
However, Senator Kingibe’s website highlights her commitment to “people-centered, community-driven impact solutions” for the FCT, including infrastructure projects like solar streetlights and a 50-bed hospital in Gwagwalada.
Despite these claims, the lack of focus on systemic issues like education and water has fueled accusations of misplaced priorities.
As the 2025 budget cycle progresses, pressure is mounting on Abuja’s lawmakers to align their project nominations with the urgent needs of their constituents.
Without a shift toward transparent, community-driven allocations, residents of the FCT’s satellite communities may continue to face hardship while public funds are spent on projects that fail to deliver lasting impact.
A post on X by @MonITNG alleges that the lawmakers failed to conduct proper needs assessments with constituents, resulting in over ₦1.1 billion allocated to projects accused of serving political patronage rather than addressing the dire needs of Abuja’s satellite communities.
According to the post, the state of education, water, and healthcare in areas like Abaji, Kwali, and Gwagwalada remains deplorable. Many schools suffer from overcrowding, dilapidated classrooms, and a lack of essential facilities like libraries and laboratories.
Primary health centers are reportedly under-equipped, lacking drugs, medical equipment, and personnel. Access to clean water remains a critical issue, with communities relying on unsafe streams and wells.
These pressing challenges, the post argues, should have guided the lawmakers’ project nominations but were largely ignored.
Instead, the 2025 budget allocations include ₦150 million for solar streetlights in selected communities and ₦100 million for lighting Apo Legislators Quarters.
Other allocations include ₦100 million for vehicles for traditional rulers, ₦75 million for distributing household items, and significant sums—₦87 million and ₦187 million in different constituencies—for youth and women “empowerment” programs.
Additionally, ₦100 million was set aside for grain distribution. Critics argue these projects prioritize short-term visibility over sustainable development.
Education and health received minimal attention. Only ₦25 million was allocated for 35 desktop computers at Orozo Secondary School, ₦50 million for “educational grants” to indigent students, and ₦50 million for a one-off medical outreach.
These token gestures, according to @MonITNG, fall short of addressing the systemic need for renovated schools, new classrooms, and robust healthcare facilities capable of serving thousands.
Further controversy surrounds the allocation of these projects to agencies outside the Federal Capital Territory’s (FCT) service delivery framework.
The College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology in Vom, Plateau State, the Federal College of Horticulture in Gombe, and the Cooperative College in Oji River have been tasked with implementing FCT projects.
This unusual arrangement has raised concerns about accountability and potential fund diversion.
The allegations have sparked outrage among residents and observers, who argue that constituency projects should address critical gaps in public services, not serve as tools for political loyalty.
“Abuja deserves better,” @MonITNG
stated, calling for lawmakers to prioritize genuine needs assessments and channel resources into schools, hospitals, and water systems in satellite towns.
Efforts to reach Senator Kingibe, Rep. Abdulrahman, and Rep. Obika for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
However, Senator Kingibe’s website highlights her commitment to “people-centered, community-driven impact solutions” for the FCT, including infrastructure projects like solar streetlights and a 50-bed hospital in Gwagwalada.
Despite these claims, the lack of focus on systemic issues like education and water has fueled accusations of misplaced priorities.
As the 2025 budget cycle progresses, pressure is mounting on Abuja’s lawmakers to align their project nominations with the urgent needs of their constituents.
Without a shift toward transparent, community-driven allocations, residents of the FCT’s satellite communities may continue to face hardship while public funds are spent on projects that fail to deliver lasting impact.
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