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BREAKING NEWS: ₦3.5 Trillion New Projects “Sneak” Into 2026 Budget Despite FG Directive
An analysis of the proposed 2026 budget by Punch reveals that no fewer than ₦3.50 trillion in new projects have been introduced, despite explicit directives to Ministries, Departments and Agencies to roll over 70 per cent of their 2025 capital allocations and avoid new projects.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
Figures extracted from the 2026 Appropriation Bill indicate that new project entries across MDAs alone amount to ₦844.49bn. When Service-Wide Votes are included, the total value of new projects rises sharply to ₦3.50tn.
Against the proposed capital expenditure of ₦23.21tn for 2026, the ₦3.50tn provision for new projects represents 15.09 per cent of total capital spending.
In December 2025, the Federal Government had directed MDAs to carry over 70 per cent of their 2025 capital budget into the 2026 fiscal year as part of efforts to prioritise completion of ongoing projects amid weak revenue performance.
The directive was contained in the 2026 Abridged Budget Call Circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and circulated to ministers, service chiefs and heads of agencies.
According to the circular, “MDAs are to upload 70 per cent of their 2025 FGN Budget to continue in FY2026, rather than seeking fresh projects,” adding that all spending would be subjected to scrutiny to ensure value for money.
Contrary to the guideline, Punch observed that at least 82 MDAs have one or more new capital or programme items in the 2026 budget.
Across these MDAs, more than 400 fresh project lines were introduced, ranging from multibillion-naira infrastructure and health projects to smaller constituency-based interventions such as boreholes, training schemes and equipment supply.
Service-Wide Votes Dominate New Allocations
A breakdown shows that Service-Wide Votes account for ₦2.66tn of the ₦3.50tn new projects, indicating that the largest allocations sit outside conventional ministerial capital lines.
The biggest single entry is ₦1.70tn for outstanding contractors’ liabilities from 2024. This alone represents about 48.55 per cent of the total new projects, including Service-Wide Votes.
Other notable Service-Wide Vote items include three N100bn allocations for the Nigeria Development Finance Corporation, the Economic Transformation Finance Programme and the Nigeria Growth Investment Fund, totalling N300bn.
Additional provisions include ₦20bn for INFRACO capitalisation, N30bn for a DSS special operations fund, and ₦110.31bn for the Nigerian Air Force to settle obligations on T-129 ATAK and Mi-35 helicopters.
The budget also earmarks ₦283.85bn for presidential air fleet logistics and management, including the operation of the National Forest Guard.
Top MDAs With The Highest New Project Values
Among MDAs, the Budget Office of the Federation recorded the highest value of new projects at ₦375bn, allocated for a multilateral or bilateral tied loan for the Power Sector Recovery Operation. This single item accounts for 44.41 per cent of total MDA-level new projects.
The Federal Ministry of Transport follows with ₦210.53bn, covering consultancy services for rail projects and the construction of six national bus terminals across the geopolitical zones.
The National Library of Nigeria has ₦24bn earmarked for structural renovation and space upgrades nationwide, while the National Blood Service Commission received ₦15bn for a national blood service centre and rehabilitation of state offices.
The Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority has ₦9.14bn in new projects, including solar mini-grids, rural roads, irrigation water pumps and youth empowerment schemes.
Further analysis showed ₦5.85bn allocated for vehicle purchases across MDAs, with major allocations at FUT Iyin Ekiti, FUADSI and Jos University Teaching Hospital.
Furnishing and office equipment projects total ₦2.93bn, while renovation and refurbishment account for ₦29.88bn, largely driven by the National Library upgrade.
Residential and staff accommodation projects stand at ₦25.29bn, anchored by ₦16.48bn for Defence Headquarters facilities and ₦7bn for DSS housing.
The Punch noted that this is not the first time the Federal Government has attempted to curb the introduction of new projects.
In December 2024, the government similarly directed MDAs to exclude new projects from the 2025 budget unless they were directly linked to completing ongoing initiatives.
The 2024 Budget Call Circular clearly states that no new projects will be admitted into the 2025 capital budget unless MDAs can demonstrate that sufficient resources have been allocated to complete ongoing projects.
The document read, “Again, the thrust of the FGN’s capital expenditure programme in 2025 will be the completion of as many cardinal ongoing projects as possible, rather than starting new projects. Thus, MDAs are hereby advised that new projects will not be admitted into the capital budget for 2025 unless adequate provision has been made for the completion/work programme of all ongoing projects.”
Also, MDAs have been instructed to carefully scrutinise and justify their proposed projects and programmes, ensuring that these align with the country’s immediate needs and the government’s key development priorities.
These priorities, as set out in the circular, include national security, economy, education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, power and energy, as well as social safety nets, with a focus on women and youth empowerment.
However, it appears that MDAs often flout this directive without any scrutiny from the Budget Office of the Federation or the National Assembly.
The National President of the Nigerian Economic Society, Professor Adeola Adenikinju, earlier argued that the late budget presentation prevents the National Assembly from carrying out proper scrutiny.
Adenikinju said, “The 2026 budget should have been in the National Assembly for consultation so that we can keep to this January 1st thing. That makes our fiscal system predictable.”
The economist said the rush to approve budgets does not allow for proper analysis and prevents ministries and departments from fully defending their plans. He warned that the practice was creating a disorganised fiscal environment.
A development economist and Chief Executive of CSA Advisory, Dr Aliyu Ilias, told Punch that the Federal Government has fiscal discipline problems.
He insisted that government performance on fiscal and budget discipline “for now has not done well” and suggested that the lapses were deliberate. “I am sure I want to say that it is intentional because you could have seen that this is becoming an error,” he said.
Ilias said the problem also rested with the National Assembly, which he accused of failing in its oversight duty.
He said the legislature was tolerating inefficiencies, adding that “The National Assembly is also failing, failing in the sense that it is their own responsibility to make sure that those things do not really fly.”
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Federal Government of Nigeria Finally Commissions CNG Station to Boost Domestic Supply
The Federal Government has commissioned an integrated Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, refueling station at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, as part of efforts to strengthen domestic gas supply and promote cleaner energy alternatives.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
Speaking at the inauguration, the Executive Director of the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, Oluwole Adama, described the move as a major step toward advancing Nigeria’s gas-powered energy transition.
He noted that the facility goes beyond being just a refueling station, adding that it reflects progress, collaboration, and commitment to expanding domestic gas utilization in line with national energy goals.
“This project represents more than the commissioning of a refueling station. It symbolizes progress, partnership, and purpose in advancing Nigeria’s energy transition, promoting cleaner fuels, and deepening domestic gas utilization in line with national energy objectives,” Adama stated.
On his part, the Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, praised the initiative, saying the facility will serve both the university community and residents of the surrounding area.
He added that the project would create opportunities for research, hands-on learning, and innovation in alternative energy solutions.
DAILY POST gathered that the federal government-backed initiative forms part of broader efforts to drive renewable energy adoption and support Nigeria’s transition to cleaner fuel sources.
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BREAKING NEWS: MTN Nigeria invests N1trillion on fibre rollout, network upgrade
MTN Nigeria said it invested N1tn in 2025 to expand fibre infrastructure, roll out additional base stations and strengthen network capacity nationwide, as the country’s biggest telco returned to profitability after a choking financial year marked by foreign exchange pressures and negative equity.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
The capital expenditure, more than double the prior year’s spending, formed part of a broader recovery that saw the company post a profit after tax of N1.1tn for the year ended December 31, 2025. The rebound followed a difficult 2024 in which MTN suspended dividend payments and grappled with balance sheet strain.
Chief Executive Officer Dr Karl Toriola described 2025 as a defining year for the company, linking the improved earnings position to renewed long-term infrastructure investment.
“During the year, we invested N1tn in network expansion and modernisation, more than double the prior year’s capital expenditure. This investment translates to additional base stations, deeper fibre rollout, expanded capacity and improved network resilience across the country because sustaining critical digital infrastructure requires disciplined capital allocation and a deliberate long-term approach,” the executive said.
The telcos’ total subscriber base increased to 87.3 million, up 7.9 per cent, while active data subscribers rose to 53.2 million. Data traffic grew by 34 per cent during the year. These figures reflect sustained demand for digital services across the country and underscore the need for continued investment in network capacity and resilience.
“We are mindful that in a period of economic pressure, expectations from customers are heightened. When Nigerians purchase data or rely on our network for work, education, financial services or daily communication, they expect reliability, fairness and continuous improvement. That expectation is both legitimate and central to our responsibility, Toriola noted.
MTN’s service revenue rose 55.1 per cent to N5.2tn in 2025, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation more than doubled to N2.7tn. Earnings per share improved to N53.07 from a negative N19.05 a year earlier, reflecting the sharp turnaround in operational performance.
Chief Financial Officer Modupe Kadiri said the company’s financial recovery was built on deliberate balance sheet repair, disciplined capital allocation and reduced foreign exchange exposure.
“A year ago, MTN Nigeria was in negative equity. Today, we are declaring a N20 total dividend for the 2025 financial year,” Kadiri stated.
The board approved a final dividend of N15 per share, subject to shareholder approval at the annual general meeting, bringing the total dividend for the year to N20 per share, including an interim dividend of N5 already paid in the fourth quarter.
According to its report, MTN generated N1.2tn in free cash flow during the year and rebuilt shareholders’ equity to N548.7bn, with retained earnings standing at N400.4bn at year-end, signalling restored financial stability after the previous year’s market volatility.
Toriola said profitability would continue to underpin infrastructure expansion, noting that profit enables sustained reinvestment in network quality and broader coverage rather than serving as an end in itself.
“Profit, in our context, is not an end in itself. It is the mechanism that enables continued investment in network quality, broader coverage and enhanced customer experience. As Nigeria’s digital ecosystem continues to expand across fintech, small businesses, education and public services, resilient and future-ready telecommunications infrastructure remains foundational to national development,” he added.
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Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA orders airline to refund passengers charged VAT before January 1
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has directed Overland Airways to refund passengers who were wrongly charged Value Added Tax on flight tickets purchased before January 1, 2026.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING
The directive followed clarification issued by the Nigeria Revenue Service on the implementation of the new tax regime affecting airline tickets.
Passengers had complained to the regulators after an elderly woman was forced to pay the new tax in 2025, a fee that was expected to take effect on January 1, 2026.
The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the NCAA, Michael Achimugu, in a statement on Saturday, disclosed that the matter had been resolved after regulatory engagement with the airline and the Nigeria Revenue Service.
“As directed by the NCAA, the operator, Overland Airways, has reverted with clarification from the Nigeria Revenue Service,” Achimugu said.
He clarified that passengers who bought tickets before the new tax laws came into force should never have been subjected to additional charges.
“Tickets purchased before January 1, 2026 were not affected by the new tax laws,” he said, adding that passengers who bought tickets in 2025 but were later made to pay VAT at check-in in 2026 were not supposed to have been charged.
According to the NCAA, the airline had initially implemented the VAT requirement based on its interpretation of the new fiscal policy, prompting complaints from affected travellers.
Achimugu explained that regulatory clarification became necessary to determine the correct application of the tax.
“The onus was on the NRS to clarify, which they have now done,” he said, noting that the aviation regulator had earlier communicated its position to the airline.
Following the clarification, Overland Airways agreed to correct the situation.
“The airline has committed to redress the situation by initiating a refund for affected passengers,” Achimugu added.
The controversy arose after several passengers complained that they were compelled to pay additional VAT charges at airport counters despite purchasing their tickets months before the tax provisions took effect.
Travellers described the development as unexpected and financially burdensome, especially during peak travel periods in December.
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