Atiku Questions N6.44bn World Cup Budget After Nigeria’s Exit

Atiku Abubakar has asked for an investigation into a N6.44 billion budget item for a presidential support group tied to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, even though Nigeria had already dropped out of the race before the budget was considered.

The former vice president said the allocation was listed for a “Special Presidential Support Group for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers” after Nigeria’s elimination in November 2025. He said the timing raised questions about who inserted and approved the vote.

Atiku’s media aide, Phrank Shaibu, also connected the budget line to the controversy over the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, the body police have described as fake in the case involving Adeniyi Adeyemi.

The latest criticism comes after previous court and police developments over PFIPC. Atiku said the public needed answers on both the World Cup budget item and the officials who cleared it.

The Federal Government and the APC had not issued a fresh response to the allegation at the time the stories were published.

Sources: Vanguard, Daily Trust