The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Nigeria’s 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to urgently disclose how they have spent the estimated ₦14 trillionfuel subsidy savings received from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) since the removal of subsidy in mid-2023.
In a statement signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s Deputy Director, and contained in separate Freedom of Information (FoI) requests dated October 4, 2025, the organisation called on the governors and the FCT minister to publish details and locations of all projects executed with the funds, as well as their implementation and completion reports, if any.
SERAP also urged them to provide future spending plans for subsequent subsidy savings expected from FAAC allocations, including details of any upcoming projects and their estimated costs.
“There is a legitimate public interest for governors and the FCT minister to urgently explain how they have spent the money collected from the subsidy savings,”SERAP stated.
The group further asked the officials to invite the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to monitor and track the spending of the funds to prevent diversion into private pockets.
According to SERAP, despite the trillions of naira distributed to states and the FCT as subsidy savings, there has been no visible improvement in citizens’ access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and social welfare.
The savings from the removal of fuel subsidy ought to be spent solely for the benefit of poor and vulnerable Nigerians who are bearing the brunt of the removal,”SERAP said.
Transparency in the spending of the money would help to avoid a morally repugnant result of double jeopardy on these Nigerians.”
The organisation warned that the management of the funds has been shrouded in secrecy, with reports suggesting that several states are using public money — possibly drawn from subsidy savings — to finance luxury expenses, foreign trips, and the lavish lifestyles of politicians.
SERAP said the lack of transparency in handling the funds “poses a significant risk of mismanagement and diversion,” stressing that “opacity in the spending of fuel subsidy savings continues to harm citizens’ welfare and erode public trust.”
It noted that the FAAC distributed ₦28.78 trillion in 2024, representing a 79% increase from the previous year, with state governments’ allocations rising by 45.5% to ₦5.22 trillion, and monthly disbursements in 2025 surpassing ₦1.6 trillion.
Despite this, SERAP lamented, millions of Nigerians remain trapped in poverty, with little to show for the massive increase in public revenue.
Nigerians have the right to know how their states and the FCT are spending the savings from fuel subsidy removal,” the group said.
Transparency will ensure that public funds are not diverted and that citizens can hold their leaders accountable.”
SERAP gave the governors and the FCT minister seven days to comply with its request or face legal action to compel disclosure in the public interest.
“Combating corruption in the spending of the money collected would alleviate poverty, improve access to basic services, and enhance the ability of states to effectively discharge their responsibilities,”
the statement added. al action to compel disclosure in the public interest.
“Combating corruption in the spending of the money collected would alleviate poverty, improve access to basic services, and enhance the ability of states to effectively discharge their responsibilities,”
the statement added.