The 36 states in Nigeria shared a total of about N9.3 trillion in federal allocations between June 2019 and December 2022, a period of 43 months that covered most of President Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s second tenure. The data, drawn from 43 monthly reports of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), show that Delta State received the highest allocation, followed by Akwa Ibom and Rivers states. The NBS had not yet uploaded the FAAC reports for January, February and March 2023 when checked on Sunday by a correspondent.
During the 43‑month review, Delta State obtained the lion’s share of about N843.8 billion, Akwa Ibom received roughly N643.2 billion, and Rivers got about N642 billion. At the lower end of the spectrum, Sokoto State received the least allocation—N119.1 billion—followed by Osun State with N126.4 billion and Cross River with N141.71 billion. Other states received the following amounts: Abia (N188.75 bn), Adamawa (N221.86 bn), Anambra (N204.54 bn), Bauchi (N200.5 bn), Bayelsa (N543.6 bn), Benue (N192 bn), Borno (N233.9 bn), Ebonyi (N171.3 bn), Edo (N247.5 bn), Ekiti (N148.4 bn), Enugu (N196.3 bn), Gombe (N156.6 bn), Imo (N215.96 bn), Jigawa (N223.7 bn), Kaduna (N242.5 bn), Kano (N308.4 bn), Katsina (N233.7 bn), Kebbi (N204.3 bn), Kogi (N193.3 bn), Kwara (N154.1 bn), Lagos (N457.4 bn), Nasarawa (N179.5 bn), Niger (N189 bn), Ogun (N147.8 bn), Ondo (N202.8 bn), Oyo (N225 bn), Plateau (N149.7 bn), Taraba (N267.9 bn), Yobe (N184.3 bn) and Zamfara (N167.3 bn).
Year‑by‑year allocations show that the states shared about N1.47 trillion from June to December 2019, N2.29 trillion in 2020, N2.35 trillion in 2021 (excluding the Federal Capital Territory), and N3.16 trillion in 2022. The cumulative allocation over the 43‑month period therefore totals N3.27 trillion.
Economic analysts note that the level of development in many states does not match the large allocations they receive. They argue that especially oil‑producing states have failed to translate the trillions of naira from FAAC into tangible development, calling on civil‑society and anti‑corruption groups to scrutinise state expenditures. Former President of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, Dr Sam Nzekwe, warned that governors often misuse these funds, citing Rivers State as an example of a government that claims a lack of money for basic infrastructure despite receiving substantial allocations. He added that governors routinely divert money into personal coffers, referencing a recent claim by the Kaduna State governor about a colleague who allegedly stored N500 million in cash at home.
Dr Muda Yusuf, Director of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises, said the refusal of public officials to defend their spending has deepened corruption. He urged a review of personnel quality in government offices and advocated for digitising processes to enhance transparency and reduce graft. Yusuf emphasized that higher revenue levels tend to increase corruption, affecting financial management across agencies. He called for greater citizen participation in monitoring state finances, demanding stronger accountability from state assemblies and insisting that competent, transparent leaders are essential for prudent spending.
Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, a professor of economics at the University of Ibadan, highlighted the stark poverty in rural areas of oil‑producing states that receive the largest allocations. He noted the lack of infrastructure, electricity, and the environmental damage that hampers local livelihoods, urging state governments to ensure that oil revenues benefit their communities.
Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella, economics professor at Olabisi Onabanjo University, observed that many states lack clear development plans to guide expenditure. While Rivers State has recently inaugurated multiple projects, Delta and Akwa Ibom receive less media attention despite their sizable allocations. Tella questioned whether these states have concrete plans for fund utilisation, suggesting that the absence of such strategies hampers visible development.
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