A new report has raised questions over the implementation of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects in Cross River State, revealing that only N649.1 million was released for seven projects out of N2.48 billion budgeted for 72 WASH-related projects in 2025.
The figures were contained in an analysis by civic organisation BudgIT and reported by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) on Tuesday.
According to the report, Kano and Cross River states collectively budgeted about N28.16 billion for 191 WASH projects in 2025, but funds were released for only 17 projects valued at N5.15 billion.
The situation was particularly notable in Cross River, where BudgIT and community monitors tracked 29 WASH-related capital projects with a combined value of about N1.46 billion.
FIJ reported that 26 of the 29 tracked projects, valued at approximately N1.25 billion, had not started when they were inspected. Only three projects, worth N208.8 million, were ongoing, while none of the projects monitored had been completed.
The report also raised concerns about identifying some projects physically. At the College of Agriculture, monitors found water points at the project location but no project signboard to establish whether the infrastructure was the one captured in the government budget.
Similar concerns were reported at Ikom Station, Abung, Akamkpa, Obot Esu, Akraba and Aboum, where monitors reportedly found old, pre-existing borehole infrastructure at locations where new projects were listed in the budget.
In Omachi Yala, a classroom project contained in the state budget had also not commenced at the time of monitoring, according to the report.
The findings come against the backdrop of ongoing efforts by the Cross River State Government to strengthen the WASH sector. Earlier in 2026, the state government said it had validated a WASH Strategic and Investment Plan for Yala Local Government Area as part of efforts to improve access to water and sanitation services.
The FIJ report, however, suggests that questions remain over the gap between WASH projects captured in the budget and projects that actually receive funding and become visible on the ground.
The report did not state that the entire N2.48 billion budgeted for Cross River was missing. Rather, it highlighted the difference between the amount provided for in the budget and the amount released for implementation, as well as the status of projects physically tracked by the monitoring team.
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