Northern Christians Raise Concerns Over ₦8.05bn Religious Projects

July 21, 2026 Azeez Amosun

According to Vanguard News, the Northern Christian Association (NCA) has asked the Federal Government to explain what it described as an imbalance in the allocation of about ₦8.05 billion for church and mosque projects in the proposed 2026 Appropriation Bill.

The association said the distribution raises questions about fairness, transparency and equal treatment. It maintained that public spending should reflect the constitutional principles of justice and equity.

In a statement issued on Monday, NCA Chairman, Rev. Joseph Hayab, said the association does not oppose government support for religious projects. He, however, insisted that such allocations must remain balanced and transparent.

Hayab cited reports indicating that the proposed budget allocates about ₦1.91 billion to seven church-related projects, while roughly ₦6.14 billion is earmarked for 52 mosque-related projects.

He argued that the figures have renewed concerns among many Christians over what they consider unequal treatment in government decisions. He said such perceptions continue to fuel mistrust.

“How long will Nigerians continue to read stories that expose the hypocrisy of our leaders?” he asked.

Hayab maintained that fairness remains essential to national unity. He argued that policies perceived as biased often deepen division, weaken trust and undermine peaceful coexistence.

He said unequal treatment by public officials has contributed to suspicion among citizens. He warned that justice must never depend on religious identity or political interests.

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The cleric noted that Christians have continued to exercise restraint in the interest of peace and national unity. He added that many governments have often mistaken that patience for weakness.

He stressed that the Constitution guarantees equal rights for every Nigerian regardless of religion. He urged public authorities to avoid actions that could create the impression of favouring one faith over another.

“Government should not be seen to promote policies that suggest preferential treatment for one religious group over another,” he said.

Hayab clarified that the association was not attacking Islam, Christianity or government partnerships with faith-based organisations. He explained that the appeal focused solely on fairness in the use of public funds.

He maintained that whenever government allocates resources to religious projects, the process should remain open, balanced and free from any appearance of discrimination.

The association urged the Federal Government to clarify the proposed allocations and review them in line with the constitutional principles of equity, justice and equal treatment. It added that fair budget decisions would strengthen national unity and restore public confidence in government institutions.

source: Vanguard News