The 2026 Federal Government budget has allocated N9.887 billion for various empowerment and infrastructure projects under the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, Enugu State, despite concerns that several of the projects fall outside the institution’s core academic mandate.
The allocations are contained in the 2,790-page 2026 Appropriation Act obtained from the Budget Office of the Federation.
A review of the budget shows that the projects include the procurement and distribution of vehicles, tractors, buses, tricycles, motorcycles, fishing boats, agricultural equipment and other empowerment materials across several states.
The Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, is primarily mandated to provide academic and professional training in cooperative education and management.
However, the 2026 budget lists the college as the implementing agency for projects spread across virtually all geopolitical zones of the country.
One of the largest allocations is N2.1 billion for the provision of utility and other vehicles to support farmers, farmers’ guards and distribution agents involved in agricultural activities.
Another N630 million is earmarked for security vehicles for selected farming communities in the South-South, while an additional N630 million is allocated for boat outboard engines for youths in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Other projects include N350 million for CNG minibuses for youth empowerment in Enugu State and N350 million for empowerment items such as motorcycles, sewing machines, refrigerators, grinding machines and other equipment in Owan, Edo State.
The budget also provides funding for traditional rulers, farmers, fishermen, women and youths across various constituencies.
In the South-East, allocations include N140 million for sewing and grinding machines and tricycles for women and youths in Aba North and South Federal Constituency of Abia State, while another N140 million is earmarked for minibuses and tricycle trucks for farmers in the same constituency.
In Ebonyi State, N105 million is allocated for minibuses and refrigerators in Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency, while N70 million is provided for cargo tricycles and motorcycles for rural farmers in Abakaliki/Izzi Federal Constituency.
Anambra State also has allocations for tricycles, motorcycles, vehicles, refrigerators, grains and youth empowerment programmes.
The budget further contains allocations for motorcycles, tricycles, boats and vehicles across states including Kebbi, Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Lagos, Imo and Delta.
The development has raised questions over the suitability of an academic institution as the implementing agency for projects involving transportation, agricultural logistics, security patrol vehicles and community-based empowerment programmes.
Critics of the arrangement argue that the projects resemble constituency development interventions traditionally associated with lawmakers and should be clearly identified with their sponsors and appropriate implementing agencies.
The allocation is contained within the college’s total N226.77 billion budget for 2026, of which about N225.63 billion is earmarked for capital expenditure.
The development has renewed concerns over the practice of inserting constituency-style projects into the budgets of ministries, departments, agencies and tertiary institutions whose statutory responsibilities may have little connection with such projects.
The controversy is expected to generate further scrutiny over the processes through which the projects were included in the 2026 Appropriation Act, their sponsors, implementing mechanisms and how the funds will ultimately be utilised.
