The Nigerian government has decided to go on a spending spree with $10bn from its windfall from the rising oil price, despite warnings of inflation.
It will spend just over $5bn fixing the country's woeful power supply which has become the administration's priority.
The rest will be shared among the 36 state governments.
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It is believed the total reserve is about $18bn.
The announcement came after weeks of negotiation between the federal government and the state governors, finance ministry sources said.
There have been fierce arguments over how the money should be spent, or if it should be saved.
Economists warn that a government spending spree could stoke inflation.
The Nigerian constitution says the windfall must be shared among the state and local governments.
Non-governmental organisations have also warned of rampant corruption in state and local governments.
Accounting is not transparent, and the money risks being wasted or stolen, they say.
(BBC)
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