BudgIT Raises Concerns Over Misallocation of Funds in Nigerian Institute's 2024 Budget

The civic-tech non-profit, BudgIT, has raised concerns about the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) in Lagos receiving over N5 billion in funding for road construction in the 2024 budget.

In addition, BudgIT pointed out that the same institute has allocated N1.5 billion for the installation of streetlights. The organization also noted that approximately N300 million is being used by the institute to provide tricycles (keke) and motorbikes.

On its X (formerly Twitter) handle, BudgIT expressed alarm at the combination of ocean and marine research with unrelated expenditures, such as road construction and vehicle distribution. The non-profit warned that such misallocations should not be allowed to continue.

"Nigerians, when you think you have seen it all! The Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (@NiomrLagos) has an allocation of over N5 billion to construct roads. The same institution is constructing streetlights with N1.5 billion and supplying tricycles and motorcycles with over N300 million. Please, what concerns ocean and marine research with road construction and keke distribution? Kai, #TheBudgetisaMess," BudgIT stated in its post.