Civic accountability platform, MonITng, has expressed concerns over a ₦2billion allocation in the 2025 federal budget for land and bush clearing under the Bola Tinubu-led government.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the organisation described the allocation as a waste of public funds.
“How clearing of land and bush under the Presidency in the 2025 Federal Budget has become another channel for waste of public funds.”
According to MonITng, details of the project highlight questionable budgeting practices.
“Project Code: ERGP1224383
Agency: National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA)
Ministry: Presidency Project Title: “Land/Bush Clearing of NALDA Farms in some states” Amount: ₦2 billion.”
The group said the project raises multiple transparency concerns.
“This project, captured in the national budget, raises serious red flags. The description is deliberately vague, stating only “some states” without identifying a single location.”
“How can citizens or oversight bodies track a project that has no specified site? Such ambiguity makes it impossible to monitor and opens the door for corruption and mismanagement.”
While acknowledging the importance of land clearing in agricultural development, the group stressed that lack of details around the allocation casts doubt on its legitimacy.
“Land and bush clearing is an important part of agricultural development, but when ₦2billion is allocated without clear details, it ceases to be development and becomes a potential avenue for budgetary abuse.”
“Without knowing which farms are to be cleared, where they are located, how many hectares are involved, or which communities will benefit, the project becomes a blank cheque.”
The organisation argued that the funds could be better invested in tangible agricultural improvements.
“Consider the opportunity cost: ₦2billion could provide tractors and mechanized tools to farmers, build irrigation systems to boost productivity, construct storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses, or improve rural access roads. Instead, this money risks being buried in an opaque line item that produces no tangible results for ordinary Nigerians.”
MonITng added that the allocation reflects a troubling pattern of padded projects in the national budget.
“This is a typical example of how projects are padded into the budget, through vague descriptions that cannot be verified by citizens or tracked by auditors. Meanwhile, the real beneficiaries of agricultural interventions, farmers in rural communities, remain in poverty, struggling with outdated methods and lack of government support.”
It warned that such practices undermine trust in the budget process.
“Budgets are meant to serve as a bridge between government promises and citizens’ realities.”
“That bridge collapses when allocations lack transparency, specificity, and accountability. This project undermines trust in the budgeting process and raises critical questions about priorities under the Presidency.”
The group demanded clarity from relevant authorities.
“Nigerians deserve answers: Which states will benefit? How many hectares of farmland are targeted? Who are the intended beneficiaries? What oversight framework exists to guarantee value for money? Until these questions are answered, ₦2 billion remains at risk of vanishing without trace.”
MonITng also called on anti-graft and oversight agencies to step in.
“We call on @nassnigeria, @officialEFCC, and @icpcnigeria to investigate this suspicious allocation. Public funds must not disappear under the guise of “land and bush clearing. ₦2billion must deliver real agricultural value, not be lost to vague and untraceable projects.”