Jul 10, 2026

₦560 Million Padding Exposed: NIHORT Ordered to Renovate Emirs’ Palaces

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in politics

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IBADAN/ABUJA, Nigeria — Fresh details emerging from Nigeria’s 2026 federal budget have ignited another round of controversy over alleged budget padding and misplaced priorities under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) in Ibadan, Oyo State—a specialized federal agency focused on horticultural research, crop improvement, and agricultural innovation—has been allocated over ₦500 million for the renovation of Emirs’ palaces in Niger State.

According to documents from the 2026 Appropriation Bill, NIHORT is slated to spend ₦560 million (with some references citing figures as high as ₦910 million) on the “Renovation of Emirs’ Palaces in the Emirate Councils of Zone B, Niger State.”

This allocation sits alongside the institute’s core agriculture-related projects, despite having no apparent connection to NIHORT’s statutory mandate of advancing horticulture, developing improved varieties, and promoting sustainable farming practices.

This latest revelation has renewed public and expert concerns about the practice of inserting “constituency” or “zonal” projects into the budgets of unrelated Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Critics argue such insertions divert scarce resources from an agency’s primary functions, potentially serving as vehicles for patronage or fund diversion rather than genuine national development.

Social media reactions have been swift and pointed. Many Nigerians question whether NIHORT’s leadership was even consulted or aware of the project, suggesting it may have been smuggled in during the budget preparation or harmonization process.

Comments such as “They just write anything to launder money” reflect widespread skepticism about transparency in the appropriations process.

This incident adds to a growing list of high-profile questions surrounding the 2026 budget. Earlier revelations, including unrecorded expenditures flagged by the IMF and probes into fictitious agencies, have fueled perceptions of systemic opacity.

Budget padding — the insertion of unjustified or inflated projects — has long plagued Nigeria’s fiscal process across multiple administrations, undermining public trust and efficient resource allocation.

NIHORT was established specifically to drive agricultural research and innovation, sectors critical to Nigeria’s food security, economic diversification, and employment generation — especially amid ongoing challenges like inflation, farmer-herder conflicts, and climate impacts on farming.

Allocating substantial sums to palace renovations in another state raises legitimate questions about opportunity costs: funds that could have enhanced research facilities, farmer training, or technology dissemination are instead directed elsewhere.

As the 2027 election cycle approaches, such stories resonate deeply with citizens already grappling with economic hardship.

Nigerians expect federal budgets to prioritize infrastructure, healthcare, education, and productivity-enhancing sectors.

When specialized institutions appear tasked with unrelated projects, it erodes confidence in the budgeting system and fuels accusations of elite capture.

While the Tinubu administration has defended its fiscal reforms and commitment to infrastructure, repeated incidents of questionable allocations continue to invite scrutiny from civil society, opposition voices, and ordinary citizens demanding greater transparency and value for money.

The National Assembly, as custodians of the appropriation process, faces pressure to ensure line items align with institutional mandates and national priorities.

Without rigorous oversight, such anomalies risk becoming normalized, further complicating efforts to build a more accountable and development-focused governance framework.

This latest exposure serves as a reminder that effective public finance management requires not just increased revenue but disciplined, transparent, and purpose-driven spending.

As details of the 2026 budget continue to surface, Nigerians will be watching closely to see whether responsible institutions step up to realign priorities with the pressing needs of a nation striving for sustainable growth.