Political analyst Jide Ojo has criticized the inclusion of religious projects in the budgets of government ministries and agencies whose statutory responsibilities are unrelated to such expenditures.
Speaking on Arise Television on Thursday, July 23, 2026, Ojo reacted to findings by Tracka, which reported that the 2026 budget allocated ₦1.91 billion to seven church-related projects and ₦6.14 billion to 52 mosque-related projects.
“Imagine in a ministry of agriculture, you are putting money for the renovation of mosques. In a ministry of water resources, you are putting money for the renovation of churches. Is that one of the mandates for those religious centers?” Ojo said.
He argued that budgetary allocations should reflect the constitutional and statutory responsibilities of ministries, departments and agencies. According to Ojo, funding the renovation of churches and mosques through institutions such as the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources raises concerns about budget priorities and whether such spending aligns with their legal mandates.
