The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Nigeria’s 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to urgently explain how they have spent an estimated ₦14 trillion received as fuel subsidy savings from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) since mid-2023.
In Freedom of Information (FoI) requests dated October 4, 2025, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP urged the governors and the FCT minister to disclose the specific projects funded with the savings, their locations, implementation status, and completion reports. The group also asked them to make public their plans for subsequent subsidy savings expected from FAAC.
“Provide details of the plans on how subsequent fuel subsidy savings you expect to collect from FAAC allocations will be spent, including details of any planned projects,” the request read.
The organisation further recommended that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) be invited to track and monitor the spending of the funds to prevent diversion into private pockets.
According to SERAP, the subsidy savings ought to be deployed solely for the benefit of poor and vulnerable Nigerians, who continue to bear the brunt of the subsidy removal. It lamented that despite the trillions allocated, there has been no significant improvement in access to basic public services such as healthcare, education, and social welfare.
“There is a legitimate public interest for governors and the FCT minister to urgently explain how they have spent the money they have so far collected from the subsidy savings,” SERAP stressed.
The group accused several states of spending public funds, possibly including subsidy savings, on unnecessary travels, exotic cars, and luxury lifestyles, while millions of citizens face poverty, unpaid salaries, and lack of access to essential services.
Citing sections of the Nigerian Constitution, the Freedom of Information Act, and the UN Convention against Corruption, SERAP noted that public officials are legally bound to ensure transparency and accountability in managing public funds. It warned that failure to account for the subsidy savings would be a violation of both domestic and international obligations, as well as a recent Supreme Court judgment affirming that the FoI Act applies to all states.
The organisation gave the governors and the FCT minister seven days to comply with the request or face legal action.
“Disclosing the details of the spending of the money collected by your state as fuel savings would allow Nigerians to scrutinise them and hold you to account,” SERAP added.
