Nigeria: Purging the 2026 Budget of Its Frivolities and Graft Bazaar
[Premium Times] We believe that the "zero budgeting" system, which deals with the MDAs on a needs basis, rather than the "envelope system," will help in curbing this craze of annual budget racketeering.
The 2026 Nigerian budget has come under scrutiny for its extravagance and instances of corruption. The allocation of ₦1.3 billion to a fictitious agency, the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, has raised eyebrows. Additionally, ₦780 million was reportedly spent on musical equipment for churches in Abia State, allegedly from the 2025 budget.
A civic tech platform, Tracka, discovered that ₦962.83 billion was earmarked for SUV procurement and empowerment projects, many of which lack a clear implementation location. The National Mathematical Centre, Abuja, and the National Building and Roads Research Institute, Lagos, were both used to construct non-essential structures for traditional rulers and mosques.
Critics argue that the budget lacks transparency and proper vetting processes, allowing for potential fraud. The total budget stands at ₦68.32 trillion, with a 46% deficit planned to be financed through borrowing.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
