The Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI) has raised serious concerns over the implementation of the ₦900...
The Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI) has raised serious concerns over the implementation of the ₦900 billion Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWD P), warning that the absence of a clear framework poses significant risks to public accountability and transparency.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the organisation noted that although the ₦900 billion fund had already been approved and disbursed in tranches between September and November 2025, the programme remains shrouded in opacity, with no publicly available implementation guidelines or safeguards to prevent misappropriation.
CeFTPI disclosed that each ward is expected to receive an average of ₦102.1 million, describing the intervention as historic in scale. However, the group warned that the lack of clarity on execution mechanisms increases the likelihood of fund diversion and so-called “ghost projects.”
The organisation identified four major accountability red flags, including uncertainty over how the funds will be disbursed, whether through state governments, local government areas or directly to contractors. It also questioned which Ministry, Department or Agency (MDA) is responsible for executing the programme, noting that no clear implementing authority has been announced.
CeFTPI further expressed concern over the absence of a publicly defined list of eligible projects, such as healthcare, water or education initiatives, warning that the funds could be vulnerable to political patronage rather than sustainable development. It also highlighted the challenge of monitoring projects across more than 8,800 wards, stressing that without a digital, geo-tagged tracking system, effective oversight would be nearly impossible.
To address these concerns, the group called on the Federal Government to immediately publish the operational guidelines for the programme, establish an open data portal to allow citizens to track allocations and project status at ward level, and empower civil society organisations to independently monitor project implementation.
According to CeFTPI, these measures are critical to ensuring that the ₦900 billion intervention delivers tangible benefits to citizens and aligns with the principles of transparency, accountability and public integrity.
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