About 78 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government have earmarked nearly N400 billion in the 2026 national budget for projects including community halls, mosques, traditional rulers' palaces, village market squares, and civic centres, according to new findings. More than half of that sum is directed at items analysts describe as non-developmental, covering the supply of grains, motorcycles and tricycles, sponsorship of community thrift societies, and the construction of museums and mini-stadia.
Projects Outside Core Mandates
The National Building and Road Research Institute, Lagos, includes in its allocation the construction of village halls in Akukwa, Anambra State, an international market in Birniwa, Jigawa State, and the refurbishment of traditional rulers' palaces in Rivers and Kogi states. The remodelling of five mosques across Kebbi, Ekiti and Jigawa states also features. Those items alone cost over N4 billion.
The National Productivity Centre's budget includes support for Ijaw musicians, construction of an Emir's palace in Yobe State, an abattoir in Gombe State, and the construction and refurbishment of Obas' palaces in Ogun State. The National Mathematical Centre, Nigeria's apex body for mathematical research, was allocated funds for the construction of a Sociology Department building at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, a project critics say has no bearing on the agency's mandate.
Experts Blame National Assembly for Budget Padding
Consultant economist and former central banker Chukwunonso Ihuma squarely blamed the two chambers of the National Assembly. 'All these are down to poor oversight by the National Assembly. In most cases, they are even the ones inserting, smuggling and padding these budgets,' Ihuma said. He called for a return to zero-based budgeting, where every expenditure line must be justified from scratch, and argued that the Director-General of the Budget Office should have the authority to remove irrelevant items. 'Markets are naturally meant to be handled by subnationals such as states and local governments, and traditional rulers should fix their palaces.'
Dr Muda Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, warned that poor budgeting damages stakeholder confidence and that several items in federal allocations are legally the responsibility of state and local governments. 'We did not have realistic projections in the budget, so the disparity is getting too big.'
Media strategist Umar Sani, a former adviser to Vice President Umar Sambo, noted that even when such projects are included, the executive does not always implement them. 'So many things were brought to Buhari and Jonathan, but they did not sign them.'
Churches, Mosques Allocated N8.05bn in 2026 Budget
Recall that Atiku Abubakar challenged the Tinubu administration over N8.05 billion set aside for religious projects in the 2026 budget. A breakdown by accountability group Tracka showed N1.91 billion went to church projects and N6.14 billion to mosque-related projects. Atiku's spokesman demanded the government name every beneficiary institution and project location or face accusations of using religion to hide misuse of funds.
Tinubu Allocates N22.15bn for Palace Projects
Legit.ng also reported that Atiku said the N22.15 billion allocation for 106 palace projects in the 2026 budget violates the Nigerian Constitution. Atiku's spokesperson said the Federal Government has refused to name the traditional rulers or disclose where the 106 palaces are located. Atiku called on the Presidency and the Budget Office to publish full details of the palace projects and the legal basis for the spending.
