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The Federal Government has earmarked ₦962.83 billion in the 2026 Appropriation Act for the procurement of 39 Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and 2,579 empowerment projects, according to an analysis by civic technology organisation Tracka. The allocation includes ₦15.13 billion for SUVs and ₦947.70 billion for empowerment programmes, a combined figure that exceeds the budgets of seven key federal ministries.
Tracka expressed concern over the transparency of the spending, noting that only 70 of the 2,579 empowerment projects have clearly identified locations. The organisation also questioned why many of the projects were assigned to 184 implementing agencies, including institutions whose statutory mandates are unrelated to empowerment programmes, arguing that the lack of clear project details could weaken accountability and oversight.
The concerns come as the Federal Government plans to finance a significant portion of the 2026 budget through borrowing. Analysts and civil society groups have urged the government to prioritise spending on projects with measurable economic impact and improve transparency in budget implementation to strengthen public confidence and ensure value for money.
