Borrowing Concerns Grow As FG Sets Aside ₦963bn For Vehicles, Constituency Projects
Fresh concerns have emerged over the Federal Government’s spending priorities after the proposed 2026 Appropriation Bill revealed plans to spend about ₦962.83 billion on official vehicles and constituency empowerment projects despite Nigeria’s rising debt profile.
A breakdown of the budget proposal shows that ₦947.7 billion has been allocated for 2,579 constituency empowerment projects spread across the country, while ₦15.13 billion is earmarked for the purchase of 39 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for government officials.
The proposed expenditure comes at a time when the Federal Government continues to rely heavily on borrowing to finance budget deficits, with debt servicing consuming a significant portion of national revenue.
Budget analysts say the nearly ₦1 trillion allocation has renewed debate over whether government spending is being directed toward critical sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure and agriculture, which many Nigerians believe require greater attention.
Findings from the budget documents indicate that many of the proposed empowerment projects involve the distribution of items such as farming equipment, business grants, vocational tools and other interventions intended to support small businesses and improve livelihoods in different communities.
However, transparency advocates have questioned the implementation framework for many of the projects, noting that several entries provide limited information on their locations, beneficiaries and expected economic impact.
The allocation for official vehicles has also attracted criticism, with some economists arguing that government should focus more on reducing the cost of governance while implementing measures to improve public finances.
Supporters of the budget, on the other hand, insist that empowerment programmes remain important in tackling unemployment, encouraging entrepreneurship and supporting vulnerable Nigerians struggling with the current economic realities.
Economic experts have called on the National Assembly to carefully examine the proposed allocations during budget consideration to ensure value for money and eliminate projects that may not deliver measurable benefits.
The Federal Government has maintained that the 2026 budget is designed to stimulate economic growth, improve infrastructure, create jobs and support ongoing reforms aimed at stabilising the economy.
As lawmakers continue deliberations on the appropriation bill, attention is expected to remain on the nearly ₦1 trillion allocation, with many Nigerians watching to see whether the National Assembly will retain, adjust or reduce the proposed spending before the budget is passed into law.