The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Works to conduct a forensic investigation into the N1.24 trillion allocated for Sukuk-funded road projects executed between 2017 and 2024 across Nigeria. 

This directive followed the adoption of a motion on matters of urgent public importance, presented by Rep. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi during Wednesday’s plenary session. 

Since 2017, the federal government, through the Debt Management Office (DMO), has raised over N1.1 trillion via Sukuk bonds to finance 124 federal road projects covering 5,820 kilometres across the nation’s six geopolitical zones. 

Rep. Gbefwi expressed concern that despite this substantial investment, Nigeria’s road network remains in poor condition. 

“The House is deeply concerned that without robust accountability mechanisms, the Sukuk programme risks becoming a conduit for mismanagement or corruption,” he stated.

In a related development, the House has also commenced an investigation into the alleged non-implementation of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (Amendment) Act, 2007, which mandates the remittance of a 5% user charge on petroleum products for road maintenance. 

The Adhoc Committee leading the probe was set up on March 19 following a House resolution on the issue. 

The Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajuddeen, emphasised the need to hold relevant government agencies accountable for their failure to enforce the statutory charge and remit funds to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).