2026 Transport Budget Sparks North-Central Outcry Over Missing Benue-Kogi–Anambra Road

The 2026 Federal Budget proposals for the Federal Ministry of Transportation have ignited growing concerns across the North-Central region following the apparent omission of a strategic road corridor linking Otukpa–Okpo–Ankpa–Anyigba–Ejule–Ugwuolawo–Idah, a key route connecting parts of Benue and Kogi down to Anambra states respectfully and the wider South-East.
The concerns emerged after public policy analyst Imran Muhammad, via his X (formerly Twitter) handle @Imranmuhdz, published a detailed breakdown of projects and allocations captured in the ministry’s 2026 budget. While the document reveals massive investments in rail infrastructure, urban mass transit and institutional reforms, stakeholders say the absence of the Otukpa-linked corridor raises serious questions about regional balance and economic inclusion.
According to the budget outline, the Federal Government plans to commit ₦142 billion to the construction of six new bus terminals and transportation facilities across the six geo-political zones, a new initiative designed to improve mass transit efficiency and decongest major cities.
Urban rail development dominates the spending plan, with ₦102 billion earmarked as counterpart funding for Phase 1 of the Lagos Green Line Metro Rail, reinforcing Lagos’ position as the focal point of rail-based urban mobility. A further ₦68 billion is allocated for consultancy services for the Lekki–Ijebu Ode–Ore–Kajola Railway and the Coastal Rail project connecting Badagry, Apapa and TinCan Ports, infrastructure expected to strengthen logistics and port evacuation.
Ongoing rail corridors are also provided for, with ₦29 billion proposed for comprehensive completion, rehabilitation and additional works—covering stations, rolling stock, signalling and security systems—on major routes such as Abuja–Kaduna, Lagos–Ibadan and Itakpe–Ajaokuta. Supporting infrastructure, including power supply, water systems and protective fencing along rail corridors in Abia, Ora and Oriwhori for the Itakpe–Ajaokuta–Aladja axis, attracts ₦2.8 billion.
Other allocations include ₦1 billion for the construction of office accommodation for the ministry and ₦700 million for the purchase of official vehicles, including CNG buses, signalling a policy tilt toward cleaner transport solutions. Another ₦700 million is set aside for preliminary works on the Lekki–Ijebu Ode Rail and Coastal Rail corridors.
Smaller but politically sensitive provisions span a wide range of activities: ₦168 million for the supply of grinding machines in selected senatorial districts; ₦144 million for special intervention programmes; ₦105 million for performance management systems and enterprise content management; and ₦91 million for ICT infrastructure upgrades. Multiple ₦70 million allocations cover railway capacity building, stakeholder engagement, national freight offices, e-governance, capital budget monitoring, the National Council on Transportation (NCT) meeting, and other institutional activities.
Despite the breadth of projects, analysts say what is missing is as important as what is included. Celestine Ukpong, an economist, described the omission of the Otukpa–Ankpa–Anyigba–Idah corridor as a “policy blind spot with real economic consequences.”
“That corridor is not just a local road; it is an economic artery linking agricultural belts in Benue and Kogi to markets in the South-East,” Ukpong said. “When such strategic routes are ignored, it weakens food supply chains, increases transportation costs and undermines the broader goal of inclusive growth that the budget claims to pursue.”
Ukpong added that while rail investment is critical, road infrastructure remains indispensable for first- and last-mile connectivity, especially for rural farming communities.
Similarly, Peter Adebayo, FCA, warned that the omission reflects a deeper governance issue in public investment prioritisation.
“From a fiscal and accountability perspective, infrastructure budgets must reflect national integration and value-for-money,” Adebayo noted. “Spending billions on rail and administrative systems while leaving out a road that supports interstate commerce suggests weak coordination and poor needs assessment.”
According to Adebayo, the neglected corridor plays a vital role in trade flows between the North-Central and South-East, and its continued deterioration could erode the economic returns expected from other transport investments.
As public scrutiny of the 2026 budget intensifies, regional advocates are calling on the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the National Assembly to revisit the project list to ensure that strategic road corridors in Kogi State and the wider North-Central zone are not sidelined.
The budget breakdown shared by Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) has provided rare transparency into the ministry’s spending priorities—while simultaneously exposing gaps that critics say must be addressed if Nigeria’s transport strategy is to deliver balanced development, national cohesion and sustainable economic growth.

Nigeria’s 2026 transport budget sparks controversy as economists Celestine Ukpong and Peter Adebayo, FCA, question the omission of the strategic Otukpa–Ankpa–Idah road linking Kogi, Benue and Anambra, despite massive rail and transit allocations.