The Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport has commended the Ministry of Transportation for its performance in 2025 despite receiving only about one per cent of its approved capital budget.
The commendation followed the presentation and defence of the ministry’s 2026 budget proposal by the Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, before the joint committee on Tuesday in Abuja
The Chairman of the committee, Senator Adamu Aliero, alongside the co-chair, Hon. Blessing Onuh described the Ministry’s performance as impressive given the severe funding constraints and delayed cash backing experienced in the 2025 fiscal year.
Aliero noted: “This is apt and forward-thinking. You have secured private-sector funding commitments of about 200 million dollars despite receiving just one per cent of last year’s budget.
“It is a good achievement and a positive outlook for the sector.”
Aliero stressed that the 2025 budget performance across key transport agencies was weak due to lack of capital releases, stressing that the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) received no capital funding, with allocations limited to overheads for maintenance and rehabilitation.
On her part, Onuh described the minister’s presentation as detailed and explanatory, adding that the committee was already familiar with the budget performance challenges.
She said the joint committee plans to conduct oversight visits to selected projects, including the Kano–Maradi rail line, in March to assess progress firsthand.
Earlier in his presentation, Senator Alkali explained that the 2026 budget proposal largely consolidates the 2025 Appropriation, with about 70 per cent of projects rolled over into the new fiscal year due to funding constraints and delayed cash backing.
He said the rolled-over items had been reviewed and aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, with emphasis on completing ongoing projects, protecting public investments, and sustaining momentum in the land transport sector.
Alkali said the 2026 budget proposal was aimed at consolidating ongoing projects, addressing funding limitations, expanding rail and road infrastructure, decongesting major commercial hubs, and driving economic growth and national integration in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He appealed to the committee for cooperation and legislative approval of the Ministry’s 2026 budget proposal.