The Federal Government of Nigeria has earmarked a whopping ₦22.15 billion in the 2026 budget for the construction, renovation, and furnishing of 106 royal palace buildings across the country.
An extensive review of the budget document released by public accountability organisation Tracka on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, exposed widespread accountability loopholes, showing that 11 palace projects worth ₦5.85 billion have no identified physical locations, making public tracking and oversight impossible.
More damning is the revelation that none of the 45 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) saddled with executing these multi-billion-naira palace projects possesses the legal or statutory mandate to construct royal structures.
Instead, the federal government routed billions of naira meant for traditional rulers’ palaces through completely unrelated research institutes, agricultural colleges, and specialised health facilities, bypassing standard procurement scrutiny.
A comprehensive examination of the budget records by Saharareporters revealed how federal agencies were weaponized to execute localized palace projects across various states.
Among the allocations, the Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan, was tasked with executing a ₦2.661 billion project (Code ERGP20270969) for the “renovation of community halls and palaces in selected central communities in FNRP Lagos” under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, alongside a ₦350 million project (Code ERGP1245947) across six LGAs in Ekiti South, and a ₦210 million allocation (Code ERGP20270991) in Ondo South.
The Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), Abuja, was earmarked ₦1.54 billion (Code ERGP30241064) under the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for the “modernisation and furnishing of some selected national heritage palaces in communities across Nigeria.”
The Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Lagos, was allocated projects totaling ₦3.92 billion, including ₦1 billion (Code ERGP20275960) for pavilions and solar power at Oluyin Palace in Iyin Ekiti; ₦525 million (Code ERGP10239712) for a palace hall at Ojo, Lagos; ₦337.13 million (Code ERGP30239678) at Itire Ikate; ₦315 million (Code ERGP30240451) for the Agbana of Isanlu palace in Kogi State; ₦315 million (Code ERGP30240459) for the Ologidi Central Palace in Ogidi; ₦175 million (Code ERGP30243295) for Ootunja Palace in Ikole LGA, Ekiti State; and ₦140 million (Code ERGP30240404) for Otosho of Agbashi Palace in Nasarawa State.
The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria was designated to handle ₦750 million (Code ERGP20273734) for the completion and furnishing of the Olu-Adde Palace of Ekinrin Adde, Akinrin Palace in Ekinrin Adde, Obaro Kabba Palace, and Olujumu Palace in Iyara, Kogi State. The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOURS) was allocated ₦700 million (Code ERGP27243638) for palaces and offices in Panshing/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, Plateau State.
The National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, was slotted for ₦560 million (Code ERGP30241883) for Emirs’ palaces in Zone B, Niger State; ₦350 million (Code ERGP30241889) for the Etsu Nupe Palace in Bida; and ₦175 million (Code ERGP20270570) in Obokun/Oriade, Osun State. The Nigeria Stored Products Research Institute, Ilorin, captured ₦595 million (Code ERGP1246774) for palace houses in the Niger Delta, and ₦210 million (Code ERGP1246710) for the Olu Gbede Central Palace in Ijumu LGA, Kogi State.
The Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, was assigned ₦500 million (Code ERGP20271192) for palaces in Ondo South; ₦200 million (Code ERGP20271737) for the Obi Palace pavilion in Aniocha/Oshimili, Delta State; and ₦175 million (Code ERGP20272142) for the Emir Palace in Shonga. The National Cereals Research Institute, Badeggi, was slotted ₦400 million (Code ERGP20270450) to construct traditional rulers’ palaces in Oruk Anam LGA, Akwa Ibom State.
The Industrial Arbitration Panel was assigned ₦369.46 million (Code ERGP20273952) for an internal access road and palace road in Oyun LGA, Kwara State. The Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) was earmarked ₦350 million (Code ERGP30236204) for the palace of the District Head of Paiko. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security HQTRS captured ₦350 million (Code ERGP30238241) and ₦140 million (Code ERGP30238238) for palaces in Kwara South.
The Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Kuru – Jos, was allocated ₦350 million (Code ERGP20272884) for the palace of the Okumagbe of Iuleha in Edo State. The Cocoa Research Institute, Ibadan, was assigned ₦280 million (Code ERGP30242140) for a mosque and palace in Oyo State; ₦210 million (Code ERGP30241968) for Okeluse Oba Palace in Ondo State; and ₦210 million (Code ERGP20270991) in Obokun/Oriade, Osun State.
The Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin-Kowa, Gombe, was allocated ₦280 million (Code ERGP1244164) for VIP Guest Palaces in Gombe State; ₦200 million (Code ERGP20273189) for District Heads’ palaces in Yalmaltu-Deba; and ₦140 million (Code ERGP20273432) in Balanga/Billiri. The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) was tasked with constructing palaces for Eze Odani, Eze Odu, and Odolukwu of Elelenwo in Rivers State for ₦280 million (Code ERGP19240494).
The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development HQTRS was allocated ₦280 million (Code ERGP27228086) for palaces in Kuje Amuwo, Lagos State, and Ilawe Ekiti. The Energy Commission of Nigeria was assigned ₦250 million (Code ERGP20276220) for a palace hall at Awo, Osun State.
The National Productivity Centre captured ₦224 million (Code ERGP30245624) and ₦140 million (Code ERGP30245619) for Obas’ palaces in Ogun State; ₦210 million (Code ERGP30243553) for Mopa Central Palace, Kogi State; ₦210 million (Code ERGP20275018) for palaces in Epinmi Akoko and Ibaka, Ondo State; ₦200 million (Code ERGP20274184) in Akungba Akoko; and ₦140 million (Code ERGP30243786) for Malabu District Head Palace in Adamawa State.
The Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), was tasked with ₦217 million (Code ERGP30239035) for Obas’ palaces in Ogun State. The National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, was earmarked ₦210 million (Code ERGP9243085) for the Okumagbe of Iuleha Palace in Edo State. The Chad Basin River Basin Development Authority was assigned ₦200 million (Code ERGP20277121) for solar street lights at Mai Gudi Palace, Yobe State.
The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) was allocated ₦200 million (Code ERGP20277958) under the Ministry of Health to renovate district heads’ palaces in Gudu/Tangaza, Sokoto State. The Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research received ₦175 million (Code ERGP10240173) for solar modules for palaces in Ijumu and Kabba Bunu, Kogi State.
The Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority was earmarked ₦175 million (Code ERGP27238645) to complete the Ogoga Palace Hall in Ikere Ekiti. The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) was assigned ₦150 million (Code ERGP20275330) for a palace in Oba Akoko, Ondo State. The National Centre for Technology Management, Ile-Ife, was tasked with ₦150 million (Code ERGP20275572) for the Ataoja of Osogbo Palace. The Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority was earmarked ₦150 million (Code ERGP20277300) to complete Eze Elelenwo Palace.
The Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, was allocated ₦140 million (Code ERGP27246230) for Emir palaces and a mosque in Birnin Gwari/Giwa, Kaduna State. The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) was tasked with ₦140 million (Code ERGP30237744) for an Obi Palace pavilion in Delta State. The Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Dawanau, was listed among implementing agencies executed to construct and renovate palaces to the tune of ₦42 million.
Meanwhile, the revelation has ignited fierce outrage among public policy experts, coming at a time when the 2026 budget suffers from a crippling ₦31.45 trillion fiscal deficit and everyday Nigerians struggle with severe economic hardship, unmotorable roads, and dilapidated healthcare facilities.
Critics pointed out that under Nigeria’s constitutional framework, traditional institutions and community-level infrastructure fall strictly under the purview of State and Local Governments, not the Federal Government.
“At a time of rising debt and limited fiscal space, should the Federal Government fund projects that are largely local in nature, while states and local governments constitutionally exist to address many community-level needs?” Tracka questioned in its public post on X, calling out the National Assembly and the Presidency.
“This is not about the importance of our traditional institutions. It is about ensuring that public budgets reflect constitutional responsibilities, institutional mandates, and Nigeria’s development priorities. The Federal Budget should not become a vehicle for financing projects outside the constitutional and statutory responsibilities of the institutions implementing them,” the organization added.
Public affairs analysts contend that sneaking local palace construction projects into the budget of cancer research institutes, agricultural boards, and science agencies is a classic tactic by federal lawmakers to insert constituency padding, siphon public funds, and reward political cronies under the guise of supporting traditional rulers.
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