By Rimamnde Shawulu
A REVIEW of detailed projects in Nigeria’s 2023 and 2024 federal appropriation schedules identified about ₦54.1bn in religion-related provisions.
🕌 Islam-related: ₦34.93bn
⛪ Christianity-related: ₦12.76bn
🤝 Interfaith: ₦915.7m
❓ Unclear: ₦5.50bn
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That means the identified Islam-related figure was about 2.7 times the Christianity-related figure.
But this does not prove deliberate discrimination. These are budget appropriations — not proof that every naira was released or spent.
The bigger questions are:
Why is government financing religious institutions?
Who inserts these projects into the federal budget?
Why aren’t the sponsoring lawmakers always disclosed?
Why are some projects placed under agencies whose mandates appear unrelated?
And could some of this money have gone into schools, healthcare, water and other services accessible to everybody?
Should Nigerian taxpayers finance churches, mosques and religious institutions — and if they do, what rules should apply?
Please share with anyone interested in Nigeria’s governance, religion and public accountability.
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