NEWS
Outrage as FG Earmarks ₦8.05bn for Churches, Mosques in 2026 Budget Amid Rising Debt Burden
The Federal Government has come under intense public scrutiny following the revelation that it set aside ₦8.05 billion in the 2026 budget for the construction, renovation and equipping of churches and mosques across the country, despite Nigeria’s worsening debt burden and mounting economic challenges.
The allocations, uncovered by Tracka, the public accountability initiative of BudgIT, show that ₦1.91 billion was budgeted for projects linked to seven churches, while ₦6.14 billion was earmarked for 52 mosque-related projects.
An analysis of the budget documents revealed that many of the religious projects were embedded within ministries, departments and agencies whose core mandates have little or no connection to religious affairs, raising fresh concerns over transparency and fiscal priorities.
One of the largest allocations is ₦1 billion under budget code ERGP20273981, routed through the Industrial Arbitration Panel under the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment for the provision and distribution of musical and cultural equipment to churches in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.
Another ₦1 billion under code ERGP20276180 was allocated through the Energy Commission of Nigeria for the provision of alternative solar power to mosques in Zamfara North Senatorial District.
The budget also provides a combined ₦850 million through the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) for the construction of churches and mosques, as well as financial support for religious leaders in Gombe State.
Further allocations include ₦280 million through the Cocoa Research Institute of Ibadan for the construction of the Al-Quareeb Community Mosque and palace in Oyo State, while another ₦280 million was approved for mosque renovations and mini-grid installations in Zamfara Central Senatorial District.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development received ₦280 million to renovate the Central Mosque, Minna, the Paiko Central Mosque, and provide carpets, while the Institute of Agricultural Research, Zaria, was allocated ₦210 million for the construction of the Tsafe Town Fifth Jumu’at Mosque, an Islamiyya school, administrative offices, fencing and an Imam’s residence.
Other provisions include ₦210 million for solar lighting in mosques and graveyards in Zamfara, ₦200 million for a mosque and Islamic centre in Kebbi State, and another ₦200 million for the construction of a chapel or mosque and a solar-powered borehole at the Federal Government Science Secondary School in Billiri, Gombe State.
The National Commission for Refugees also received ₦200 million for the construction of a mosque in Kura Local Government Area and the fencing of an Eid Mosque in Kano State.
Several other allocations ranging from ₦150 million to ₦42.77 million were spread across states including Kaduna, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano, Lagos, Ogun, Enugu, Bayelsa, Taraba and Kebbi for mosque construction, renovations, solar installations, boreholes, Islamiyya schools and church projects.
The revelations have generated widespread criticism because they come as Nigeria grapples with a record ₦31.45 trillion fiscal deficit, representing about 46 per cent of the 2026 budget. The deficit is expected to be financed largely through domestic and external borrowing, further increasing the country’s already rising debt profile.
Public finance experts argue that spending borrowed funds on projects with limited economic returns, such as religious infrastructure and worship equipment, raises serious questions about fiscal discipline and the government’s spending priorities.
Tracka also questioned the appropriateness of committing billions of naira to religious projects at a time when many communities still lack functional primary healthcare centres, quality schools, potable water and motorable roads.
The organisation further highlighted what it described as a disturbing mismatch between the mandates of several government agencies and the projects assigned to them, noting that institutions such as the Industrial Arbitration Panel, the Cocoa Research Institute and agricultural agencies were allocated responsibilities for executing church and mosque projects.
Analysts say the pattern reflects the continued insertion of constituency projects into the budgets of unrelated government agencies, a practice that has long attracted criticism for weakening accountability and creating opportunities for political patronage.
The disclosures have reignited debate over whether scarce public resources should be deployed to fund religious infrastructure while critical sectors such as healthcare, education, water supply and transportation continue to face significant funding gaps.