The Federal Government of Nigeria has earmarked a whopping ₦22.15 billion in the 2026 budget for the construction, renovation, and furnishing of 106 royal palace buildings across the country.
An extensive review of the budget document released by public accountability organisation, Tracka, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, exposed widespread accountability loopholes, showing that 11 palace projects worth ₦5.85 billion have no identified physical locations, making public tracking and oversight impossible.
More damning is the revelation that none of the 45 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) saddled with executing these multi-billion-naira palace projects possesses the legal or statutory mandate to construct royal structures.
Instead, the federal government routed billions of naira meant for traditional rulers’ palaces through completely unrelated research institutes, agricultural colleges, and specialised health facilities, bypassing standard procurement scrutiny.
A comprehensive examination of the budget records revealed how federal agencies were weaponized to execute localized palace projects across various states
Among the allocations, the Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan, was tasked with executing a ₦2.661 billion project (Code ERGP20270969) for the “renovation of community halls and palaces in selected central communities in FNRP Lagos” under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, alongside a ₦350 million project (Code ERGP1245947) across six LGAs in Ekiti South, and a ₦210 million allocation (Code ERGP20270991) in Ondo South.
The Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), Abuja, was earmarked ₦1.54 billion (Code ERGP30241064) under the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for the “modernisation and furnishing of some selected national heritage palaces in communities across Nigeria.”
The Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), Lagos, was allocated projects totaling ₦3.92 billion, including ₦1 billion (Code ERGP20275960) for pavilions and solar power at Oluyin Palace in Iyin Ekiti; ₦525 million (Code ERGP10239712) for a palace hall at Ojo, Lagos; ₦337.13 million (Code ERGP30239678) at Itire Ikate; ₦315 million (Code ERGP30240451) for the Agbana of Isanlu palace in Kogi State; ₦315 million (Code ERGP30240459) for the Ologidi Central Palace in Ogidi; ₦175 million (Code ERGP30243295) for Ootunja Palace in Ikole LGA, Ekiti State; and ₦140 million (Code ERGP30240404) for Otosho of Agbashi Palace in Nasarawa State.
The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria was designated to handle ₦750 million (Code ERGP20273734) for the completion and furnishing of the Olu-Adde Palace of Ekinrin Adde, Akinrin Palace in Ekinrin Adde, Obaro Kabba Palace, and Olujumu Palace in Iyara, Kogi State. The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOURS) was allocated ₦700 million (Code ERGP27243638) for palaces and offices in Panshing/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, Plateau State.
The National Horticultural Research Institute, Ibadan, was slotted for ₦560 million (Code ERGP30241883) for Emirs’ palaces in Zone B, Niger State; ₦350 million (Code ERGP30241889) for the Etsu Nupe Palace in Bida; and ₦175 million (Code ERGP20270570) in Obokun/Oriade, Osun State.
