Outrage over ₦8.05bn allocation for churches, mosques in 2026 budget

The Federal Government is facing backlash after it was revealed that ₦8.05 billion has been allocated in the 2026 budget for the construction, renovation, and equipping of churches and mosques.

According to the public accountability group Tracka, this allocation includes ₦1.91 billion for seven church projects and ₦6.14 billion for 52 mosque initiatives nationwide.

The budget covers a range of expenditures for worship facilities, including construction, renovations, solar energy installations, boreholes, musical equipment for churches, carpets, Islamiyya schools, houses for imams, and more.

Notably, some projects are assigned to agencies with no connections to religious affairs, raising questions about transparency and effective budget implementation.

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This news has ignited significant criticism, particularly as Nigeria grapples with a growing fiscal deficit, increasing public debt, inflation, and underfunding in essential sectors like healthcare, education, infrastructure, and water supply.

Tracka has raised concerns about the appropriateness of using public funds for religious projects when many communities still lack fundamental infrastructure and services. They emphasized that every naira spent, especially borrowed money, should provide clear public benefits.

Public policy analysts echoed these concerns, arguing that financing projects with minimal or no economic returns through borrowing is hard to defend. Additionally, critics cautioned that assigning religious projects to unrelated ministries and agencies could undermine accountability and invite political favoritism.