Nigeria's 2026 budget allocates billions for palaces in non-existent kingdoms
Nigeria’s 2026 federal budget earmarks ₦5.85 billion for the construction of palaces in kingdoms that do not exist, while total allocations for traditional rulers’ palaces reach ₦22.15 billion across 106 projects spread across 45 ministries, departments and agencies. Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Health revealed that only about seven percent of its approved capital allocation was actually released last year, leaving essential health services underfunded. Critics argue that these phantom palace projects—often assigned to agencies with no mandate over traditional institutions—serve as conduits for graft, with funds diverted to bureau de change operations and private wealth rather than public development. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission recently uncovered 908 suspected ghost workers in about 50 federal MDAs, recovering approximately ₦942 million in fraudulent salary payments, underscoring entrenched payroll fraud. Analysts warn that such budget padding reflects a governance culture where public resources are negotiated for private benefit, exacerbating public cynicism as hospitals, schools and roads deteriorate amid inflation and unemployment. They argue the billions earmarked for non-existent palaces could instead transform healthcare, education, infrastructure, water supply or social protection programmes, delivering real benefits to millions of Nigerians.