Northern Christians Ask FG To Explain N1.9bn Church Share In N8bn Religious Budget

The Northern Christian Association has asked the Federal Government to explain why church projects received about N1.9bn out of an N8.05bn religious allocation in the proposed 2026 budget.

The group said the figures raised questions about fairness because mosque-related projects took the larger share of the allocation.

Rev. Joseph Hayab, chairman of the association, said the group was not opposed to public support for religious projects. Its concern, he said, was the size of the gap and the need for equal treatment of citizens.

Vanguard reported that the association called for a transparent explanation of the allocation and asked the government to show how the spending decisions were made. Punch reported that the group warned that unequal treatment in faith-related public spending could deepen mistrust.

The association said public funds should be distributed in a way that reassures both Christian and Muslim communities, especially in a region where religious balance often carries political weight.

The verified reports did not include a fresh public response from the Federal Government.

Sources: Vanguard, Punch