Nigeria’s proposed 2026 budget has come under fresh scrutiny after civic monitoring group Tracka revealed that allocations for luxury vehicles and empowerment projects are higher than the combined budgets of seven federal ministries.
According to Tracka’s review of the 2026 budget proposal, the Federal Government earmarked ₦15.13 billion for the purchase of 39 sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and ₦947.7 billion for 2,579 empowerment projects across the country.
The group said the combined allocation of ₦962.83 billion exceeds the ₦960.27 billion budgeted for seven key ministries.
The affected ministries include Trade and Investment, allocated ₦156.8 billion; Housing, ₦145.3 billion; Women Affairs, ₦169.39 billion; Justice, ₦150.7 billion; Livestock Development, ₦177.6 billion; Aviation and Aerospace Development, ₦87.3 billion; and Petroleum, ₦73.1 billion.
Tracka said the spending pattern raises concerns about the government’s priorities at a time when Nigeria faces pressing challenges in housing, industrial development and social welfare.
The organisation also questioned the transparency of the proposed empowerment projects.
According to its analysis, only 70 of the 2,579 projects have clearly identified implementation locations, leaving the vast majority without information that would allow citizens, oversight institutions or taxpayers to monitor their execution.
Tracka said the projects are spread across 184 government agencies, many of which do not have statutory mandates to implement empowerment programmes.
Among the agencies receiving the largest allocations is a river basin authority linked to 393 projects worth ₦127.1 billion. The National Agricultural Development Fund is also expected to oversee six projects valued at ₦89.5 billion, while a state development authority is assigned 216 projects worth ₦88.1 billion. Another agency will manage 94 projects valued at ₦36.9 billion.
While acknowledging that empowerment programmes can improve the livelihoods of vulnerable Nigerians when properly implemented, Tracka warned that poorly designed schemes have often been used as tools of political patronage.
The group said programmes lacking clearly identified locations, transparent beneficiary selection criteria and implementation by legally mandated agencies risk undermining public confidence.
Tracka also noted that the proposed 2026 budget is expected to record a deficit of about 46 per cent, meaning a significant portion of government expenditure will be financed through borrowing.
According to the organisation, the country’s fiscal challenges make it essential for every public expenditure to be linked to projects with measurable economic and social impact.
