By Nkechi Eze
Nigeria has embarked on one of its most ambitious infrastructure accountability exercises in recent history, as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Federal Ministry of Works have jointly launched a comprehensive nationwide audit of federal road projects valued at more than Thirty-Six Trillion Naira (N36 trillion).
In an official statement, the Spokesperson for the Commission, Okor Odey, announced that the Special Tracking Exercise, which commenced on November 14, 2025, will physically verify and assess the performance of 760 federal road contracts across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to the Commission, the exercise is a strategic partnership bringing together ICPC investigators, engineers from the Federal Ministry of Works, and independent experts drawn from professional bodies such as the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS). The multidisciplinary teams are already deployed to project sites nationwide, conducting on-the-ground inspections and reviewing documentation to establish the true status of each project.
The Commission highlighted that the assessment is aimed at driving four major national objectives: enhancing fiscal governance through sustainable and cost-effective infrastructure oversight; strengthening procurement integrity by uncovering and deterring fraudulent contract practices; enforcing contractor accountability by compelling the completion of abandoned projects and ensuring compliance with contract terms; and securing financial recovery where public funds have been misapplied, inflated, or lost due to non-performance.
As part of the ongoing field work, teams are reviewing project records, inspecting deliverables, and engaging stakeholders to determine compliance levels. After the state-level verification, findings will be consolidated into a single national audit report expected to identify irregularities and guide enforcement measures against any individuals or entities found culpable.
“This exercise represents a proactive, system-driven approach to safeguarding our national infrastructure investments,” the Commission stated. “Tracking 760 projects of this magnitude underscores our resolve to partner with government institutions in closing leakages, promoting accountability, and ensuring that public projects translate into tangible public good.”
The ICPC reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening integrity within Nigeria’s public procurement and project execution processes, expressing confidence that the collaborative audit will help secure better value for the trillions of naira allocated to road infrastructure nationwide.
