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The Federal Government has come under renewed public scrutiny following revelations that nearly ₦963 billion has been earmarked for the purchase of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and thousands of empowerment projects in the 2026 national budget, despite the country's growing dependence on borrowing to finance public spending.
Civic technology organisation Tracka raised the concerns after reviewing details of the 2026 Appropriation Act, warning that the scale and structure of the allocations raise serious questions about transparency, accountability and fiscal priorities.
According to the group's analysis, the government set aside ₦962.83 billion, with ₦15.13 billion allocated for the procurement of 39 SUVs, while the remaining ₦947.70 billion is designated for 2,579 empowerment projects spread across ministries, departments and agencies.
Tracka noted that the total amount exceeds the combined annual budgets of several federal ministries, including those responsible for housing, women affairs, justice, aviation, industry, livestock development and petroleum resources.
The organisation also expressed concern over the limited details attached to many of the proposed projects. It disclosed that only a small fraction of the empowerment initiatives contain clearly identified locations, making it difficult for citizens, civil society groups and oversight institutions to effectively monitor implementation.
The report further revealed that the projects have been distributed across 184 government agencies, including some whose statutory responsibilities have little or no direct connection to empowerment programmes. According to Tracka, this approach could weaken accountability and complicate efforts to track project execution.
The latest findings come as Nigeria continues to grapple with mounting debt obligations and a widening fiscal deficit. A significant portion of the 2026 budget is expected to be financed through new borrowing, prompting renewed calls for prudent management of public resources.
Economic analysts have repeatedly stressed that government spending should prioritise projects capable of stimulating economic growth, improving infrastructure and delivering measurable benefits to citizens, especially at a time of rising inflation and increasing cost-of-living pressures.
Transparency advocates argue that while empowerment programmes can provide meaningful support to vulnerable communities, their effectiveness depends on proper planning, clear project locations and open implementation processes. Without these safeguards, they warn, monitoring becomes difficult and public confidence may suffer.
The debate surrounding the budget allocations is expected to intensify as lawmakers, civil society organisations and members of the public continue examining spending priorities outlined in the 2026 fiscal plan, particularly amid concerns over Nigeria's growing debt burden and the need for greater value for public funds.