Atiku Questions N8bn Allocation for Religious Projects in 2026 Budget
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticized the Federal Government over the allocation of more than ₦8 billion for church and mosque-related projects in the 2026 budget.
According to reports, Atiku expressed concerns on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, over the decision to earmark approximately ₦8.05 billion for religious projects at a time when Nigeria continues to face significant economic and developmental challenges.
In a statement issued through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former Vice President argued that the funds could have been better utilized in addressing critical national needs such as poverty reduction, healthcare delivery, education, and infrastructure development.
Atiku accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of using religion as a cover for expenditures that require greater public scrutiny and accountability. He cited findings by civic accountability organization Tracka, which reportedly revealed that about ₦1.91 billion was allocated to church-related projects, while approximately ₦6.14 billion was designated for mosque-related initiatives in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
The ADC presidential candidate further raised concerns over the transparency of the allocations, noting that the identities of several beneficiary churches and mosques were not clearly specified in the budget documents. He questioned the absence of detailed information regarding the institutions expected to receive the funds and the specific projects to be executed.
Calling for greater openness, Atiku urged the Federal Government to publish the names of all beneficiary religious institutions, the locations of the projects, the agencies responsible for implementation, and the legal framework guiding the allocations.
He maintained that Nigerians deserve full disclosure on how public funds are being spent, particularly at a time when the country is grappling with economic hardship and competing developmental priorities.
In his statement, Atiku described the allocations as a matter requiring urgent public explanation, insisting that religious institutions should not be used to shield government spending from accountability and transparency.
The Federal Government has yet to officially respond to the concerns raised regarding the religious project allocations in the proposed 2026 budget.
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