Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has raised concern over reports that the federal government earmarked about 8.05 billion naira in the 2026 budget for church and mosque related projects, arguing that such spending demands the same transparency as any other public expenditure.

In a statement from his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said faith holds a sacred place in national life but must never become a shield for opaque budgeting. Citing analysis from the accountability group Tracka showing about 1.91 billion naira allocated to church related projects and 6.14 billion naira to mosque related projects, he said the most basic information about beneficiaries remains missing from the budget documents.

He said that since religious bodies typically operate as incorporated trustees with distinct legal identities, Nigerians have a right to know which specific churches and mosques, and in which communities, would benefit from the funds, arguing that unlike roads or hospitals identified by location, many of these allocations fail to name specific beneficiary institutions, making independent verification difficult.

Atiku said committing public funds in the name of religion while withholding information on where the money goes undermines both fiscal accountability and the integrity of religious institutions, and called on the presidency to publish the names of every beneficiary institution, project location and implementing agency along with the legal basis for the allocations, warning that anything less would reinforce perceptions that religion is being used to shield questionable spending.