Northwest states received over N537bn LG allocations in first half of 2025
By Aminu Abubakar
A breakdown of federal allocations to states for the first half of 2025 shows that Nigeria’s Northwest geopolitical zone received a total of over N537.132 billion between January and June. The data, obtained from official disbursement figures, covers allocations made to the seven states in the region: Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
SolaceBase reports that the analysis reveals that the region saw a steady rise in allocations after January, with February recording the highest monthly total of N95.8 billion. The lowest monthly allocation was in January at N79.9 billion. Overall, the zone averaged approximately N89.5 billion per month during the six-month period under review.
Kano State emerged as the highest recipient within the region, accounting for more than N130 billion of the total. This places Kano well ahead of other states in the zone, reaffirming its fiscal prominence as a densely populated and economically significant part of Northern Nigeria.
Breakdown by Month
In January 2025, total allocations to the Northwest states stood at N79.9 billion. Kano led with N19.5 billion, followed by Kaduna with N11.6 billion and Katsina with N14 billion. Jigawa received N10.6 billion, Kebbi N8.4 billion, Sokoto N9.3 billion, and Zamfara received the least with N6.5 billion.
February saw a significant jump, with allocations totalling N95.8 billion for the zone. Kano again received the highest amount at N23.3 billion, while Katsina received N16.7 billion, and Kaduna got N13.6 billion. Jigawa was allocated N12.7 billion, Sokoto N11.5 billion, Kebbi N10.1 billion, and Zamfara N7.8 billion.
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In March, the zone received N91.469 billion. Kano and Kaduna retained strong positions with N22.1 billion and N13.1 billion, respectively. Jigawa received N12.2 billion, Katsina N15.9 billion, Sokoto N11.069 billion, Kebbi N9.7 billion, and Zamfara N7.4 billion.
Allocations in April totalled N85.9 billion. Kano received N20.8 billion, Katsina N14.9 billion, Kaduna N12.2 billion, and Jigawa N11.5 billion. Sokoto was allocated N10.3 billion, Kebbi N9.1 billion, and Zamfara N7.1 billion.
By May, allocations slightly increased again to N91.063 billion. Kano got N22.1 billion, Kaduna N12.9 billion, Katsina N15.8 billion, Jigawa N12.063 billion, Kebbi N9.7 billion, Sokoto N10.9 billion, and Zamfara N7.6 billion.
June allocations stood at N92.9 billion. Kano received the highest single-month allocation of N22.6 billion in the zone, followed by Katsina with N16.5 billion and Kaduna with N13.1 billion. Jigawa received N12.3 billion, Sokoto N11 billion, Kebbi N9.8 billion, and Zamfara again got the lowest with N7.6 billion.
State-by-State Totals
The six-month figures show that Kano received a total of N130.4 billion, the highest in the region. Katsina followed with N93.8 billion, while Kaduna came third with N76.5 billion. Jigawa accumulated N71.663 billion during the same period, while Sokoto received N64.069 billion. Kebbi’s half-year total was N56.2 billion, and Zamfara received the least overall with N44 billion.
Fiscal Trends and Observations
Kano State’s position as the top recipient of federal allocation in the Northwest is consistent with its demographic and economic weight. As Nigeria’s most populous state, it commands a significant share of national revenue disbursement, which often correlates with population size and other socio-economic indices used in the federal allocation formula.
The data also shows that federal allocations increased steadily after January. The sharp rise in February and continued relatively high disbursements in the following months may reflect improved national revenue performance, likely tied to rising oil receipts, tax collections, or revised disbursement policies by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
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Another notable observation is Zamfara’s consistently low share. With just N44 billion received over six months, Zamfara accounted for less than 10 percent of the zone’s total allocations.
This comes despite the state’s ongoing struggles with security and infrastructure challenges. The data may raise concerns over how federal allocation formulas take into account urgent developmental needs versus static population or geographic indicators.
Sokoto and Kebbi, both in the lower allocation bracket, also trailed behind states like Kano and Katsina. Sokoto’s total for the half-year stood at just over N64 billion, while Kebbi received N56.2 billion. Jigawa, although not in the bottom tier, also lagged behind the top three with a total of N71.663 billion.
Regional Outlook
The combined N537.132 billion allocation for the Northwest in six months underlines the zone’s importance in national fiscal planning, but also highlights the disparities within the region. While Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna enjoy relatively high levels of disbursement, states like Zamfara, Kebbi, and Sokoto continue to receive much lower allocations.
This uneven distribution could impact development efforts and service delivery in the lower-ranking states, especially with states struggling with their internally generated revenue (IGR).
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