Fresh report don cause serious discussion across Nigeria after civic technology organisation, Tracka, reveal say Federal Government set aside almost ₦1 trillion for empowerment projects and purchase of SUVs inside the 2026 Budget.
According to the report, government budget ₦962.83 billion for empowerment programmes and Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), an amount wey even pass the combined budget of seven important federal ministries.
Tracka talk say from the money, ₦15.13 billion go for purchase of 39 SUVs, while ₦947.70 billion go for 2,579 empowerment projects spread across different government agencies.
The organisation point out say the amount wey government keep for SUVs and empowerment projects pass the total budget allocation wey seven key ministries receive put together.
Among the ministries wey receive less money than the empowerment package na, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Livestock Development, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, and Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
According to Tracka, all these ministries combined get around ₦960.27 billion, while SUVs and empowerment projects alone carry ₦962.83 billion.
For many observers, the figures don raise serious questions about government spending priorities.
One of the biggest concerns wey Tracka raise be say plenty of the empowerment projects no get clear location.
According to the organisation, out of 2,579 projects, na only 70 projects get specific locations attached to them.
That means thousands of projects worth hundreds of billions of naira no clearly show where dem go happen.
Tracka ask:
“How citizens go fit track projects wey no get location? How oversight agencies go verify implementation? How taxpayers go know who really benefit from the money?”
The organisation say this lack of information fit make monitoring and accountability difficult.
The report also reveal say empowerment projects no just dey under ministries alone.
Instead, dem spread the projects across 184 government agencies, including some institutions wey many Nigerians no expect to handle empowerment programmes.
One example na Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, wey allegedly get 393 projects worth ₦127.1 billion.
Another one na National Agricultural Development Fund, wey receive six projects worth ₦89.5 billion.
Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin-Kowa, Gombe, reportedly get 216 projects worth ₦88.1 billion, while Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan, receive 94 projects worth ₦36.9 billion.
These allocations don make many people ask whether some of the agencies get the capacity to handle projects of that size.
According to the budget breakdown, the single biggest empowerment allocation na ₦89.09 billion for the Renewed Hope Fertiliser Support Programme under the National Agricultural Development Fund.
Other major allocations include, ₦14 billion for procurement and distribution of empowerment equipment and utility vehicles, ₦14 billion for youth empowerment programmes under the Ministry of Youth Development, and ₦14 billion for youth empowerment and medical outreach programmes under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The budget also carry money for buses, tricycles, motorcycles, electric vehicles, sewing machines, fertilisers, grants, vocational tools and equipment.
Tracka no talk say empowerment programmes na bad thing.
Instead, the organisation explain say empowerment projects fit help reduce poverty, create jobs and improve livelihoods if dem design and implement am properly.
But according to the group, transparency and accountability must dey if Nigerians go trust say the money truly reach the people wey need am.
As debate over the 2026 budget continue, many Nigerians don begin ask whether the almost ₦1 trillion allocation go truly change lives or whether government need to explain more details about where the projects dey and who go benefit from them.
