Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Federal Government over what he described as questionable allocations in the 2026 budget, including N6.44 billion earmarked for a presidential support group linked to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Atiku, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, questioned why funds were provided for a competition Nigeria had already failed to qualify for before the budget was presented to the National Assembly.
He demanded explanations on the purpose of the allocation, those responsible for inserting the provision, who approved it, and the intended beneficiaries of the expenditure.
The ADC presidential hopeful also linked the World Cup allocation controversy to the ongoing debate over the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), accusing the Bola Tinubu administration of attempting to manipulate the narrative surrounding the issue and shift attention towards opposition figures.
Atiku argued that the controversy should not be reduced to the alleged actions of Adeniyi Adeyemi, who presented himself as PFIPC’s Director-General, but should focus on how an organisation allegedly regarded as non-existent gained access to government structures, recruited staff, secured office space, and reportedly received public funds.
He questioned how such a body could operate within government circles without either official support or a major failure of oversight by relevant institutions.
According to him, the PFIPC matter raises broader concerns about accountability, transparency, and the credibility of the federal budgeting process.
Atiku described the alleged N1.3 billion allocation linked to PFIPC in the 2026 Appropriation Act as another example of spending that requires public scrutiny and independent investigation.
He warned against attempts to cover up the controversy, saying the matter had implications for Nigeria’s image internationally and should be handled through a transparent probe.
Atiku further accused the administration of using political messaging to manage public perception, insisting that all officials connected to the controversy must answer questions about how the alleged arrangement was allowed to continue.
He said the issues surrounding PFIPC, disputed budgetary allocations, and other unresolved government controversies required a thorough and impartial investigation in the interest of national accountability.
