Mahdi Shehu questions ₦8.4bn road projects in Almajiri commission’s 2026 budget

Public affairs commentator, Mahdi Shehu has questioned the inclusion of ₦8.4 billion for road construction in the proposed 2026 budget of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children.

Shehu raised the concerns in a post shared on his verified X handle on Monday, alleging that the allocations do not align with the commission’s core mandate.

According to him, the commission has a total approved 2026 budget of ₦22.82 billion, out of which ₦8.4 billion was earmarked for road construction projects in Ekiti, Ogun and Katsina states.

He also claimed that the budget contains provisions for solar installations, the purchase of hospital ambulances and hospital equipment.

“From the total budget, ₦8.4 billion was recklessly earmarked for road construction in Ekiti, Ogun and Katsina states,” he wrote.

“Other reckless provisions are those for solar installations and the purchase of hospital ambulances and hospital equipment.”

Shehu argued that such projects fall outside the responsibilities of the commission, whose primary mandate is to address issues affecting Almajiri and out-of-school children.

“The policy document of the commission has nothing to do with road construction. Its mandate is purely Almajiri-centred,” he said.

He further alleged that the allocations were the result of fraudulent insertions by some politicians.

“It is clear from the fraudulent insertions that some politicians are simply wicked, irresponsible, callous, treacherous and greedy,” he wrote.