By Seun Ibiyemi
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over the N6.44 billion allocation for a “Special Presidential Support Group for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers” contained in the 2026 Appropriation Act, describing the expenditure as questionable and demanding explanations from the Federal Government.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that the budgetary provision lacked justification, noting that Nigeria had already failed to qualify for the tournament before the budget proposal was presented to the National Assembly.
The former vice president questioned the rationale behind earmarking billions of naira for World Cup qualifiers after the Super Eagles’ elimination from the competition.
“How does a serious government budget N6.44bn for presidential support for World Cup qualifiers after the country had already been eliminated? What competition was the money intended to support? Who inserted the provision, who approved it and who was expected to benefit from an expenditure whose stated purpose had already ceased to exist?” he queried.
Atiku said the allocation reinforced public concerns about the integrity of Nigeria’s budgeting process, alleging that the national budget had become a platform for wasteful spending and questionable projects.
“It reinforces public suspicion that the national budget has become a warehouse for dubious expenditures, fiscal waste and allocations without any defensible public purpose,” he stated.
The former vice president linked the controversial allocation to the ongoing scandal surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), an organisation the Presidency has reportedly described as non-existent.
According to Atiku, critical questions remain unanswered over how the organisation allegedly secured office accommodation within the Federal Secretariat, recruited personnel, obtained diplomatic recognition and reportedly accessed public funds.
He further expressed concerns that the arrest of the self-acclaimed Director-General of the PFIPC, Adeniyi Adeyemi, on allegations bordering on forgery, impersonation and obtaining money by false pretences, could distract attention from broader issues surrounding the controversy.
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Adeyemi had publicly alleged that he paid about N400 million in bribes to secure his appointment and named senior government officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. Atiku, however, maintained that the allegations remain unproven and should be subjected to an impartial investigation.
The former presidential candidate also faulted the investigation ordered by President Bola Tinubu and assigned to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, describing it as insufficient to guarantee public confidence.
He subsequently called on the National Assembly to establish an independent bipartisan panel to investigate both the PFIPC controversy and the circumstances surrounding the contentious World Cup allocation.
