Nigeria’s Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has warned the country’s 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to publish details of how they spent an estimated ₦14 trillion ($9 billion) in fuel subsidy savings received through federal allocations or face legal action.
In a Freedom of Information (FOI) request dated October 4, 2025, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, urged the governors and the FCT minister to disclose how the funds were utilized and outline plans for future allocations derived from subsidy savings.
The group also called on them to invite Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies—the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)—to track and monitor the disbursement of the funds to ensure transparency and prevent diversion into private pockets.
“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.”
Since the federal government ended the decades-long fuel subsidy in mid-2023, state governments and the FCT have received increased allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). However, SERAP said the higher inflows have not translated into improved access to essential services such as healthcare and education.
“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,” the rights group said. “The spending details of the money collected by several states and the FCT have been mostly shrouded in secrecy.”
Nigeria’s fuel subsidy removal was aimed at curbing government spending and redirecting funds toward development projects, but critics say the policy has worsened hardship among millions of citizens facing surging living costs.
SERAP has repeatedly taken legal action against government agencies and officials over alleged corruption and misuse of public funds.