Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government’s allocation of more than N8 billion for church- and mosque-related projects in the 2026 budget, questioning the spending amid Nigeria’s economic challenges.
According to a Daily Post report on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, Atiku, in a statement issued through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the funds would be better spent on priorities such as poverty reduction, infrastructure, healthcare and education.
Citing findings by civic accountability group Tracka, Atiku said the 2026 Appropriation Bill earmarked about N1.91 billion for church-related projects and N6.14 billion for mosque-related initiatives, bringing the total allocation to approximately N8.05 billion.
He also questioned the transparency of the allocations, arguing that many of the proposed beneficiary churches and mosques were not clearly identified in the budget. Atiku called on the government to publish the names and locations of all beneficiaries, the implementing agencies and the legal basis for the projects.
“The Tinubu administration has crossed the moral red line. God is not a laundering machine for public funds,” Atiku said, accusing the government of using religion to shield questionable appropriations.
