A review of Nigeria’s 2026 Appropriation Act by SaharaReporters has revealed that the Federal Co-operative College, Oji River, in Enugu State, received allocations totalling N46.616 billion for road construction, erosion control, drainage, bridge and flood-control projects across at least twelve states, despite the institution’s statutory focus on cooperative education and management.
The 2,790-page budget document, obtained from the Budget Office of the Federation, shows the college was allocated a total of N226.774 billion, of which N225.632 billion was designated for capital expenditure. Pages 731 to 761 detail how roughly one-fifth of that capital vote, N46.616425 billion, was directed toward infrastructure works in Enugu, Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Katsina, Sokoto, Kano and other states.
The college’s mandate centres on academic training in cooperative studies. No legislative instrument cited in the review authorises it to execute nationwide road construction, rural access or community development projects.
Among the largest line items are N2.1 billion for roads in selected Anambra communities, N1.9 billion for the Baddore-Lukosi Road, and N1.75 billion for rural farming roads in the South-South region. Allocations of N1.4 billion each appear for roads in Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ekiti; South-Western farming communities; selected farm roads in Ogun; and the Shimawa-Kaniyi Road. Two projects received N1.05 billion each: rural farm roads in Akko Federal Constituency, Gombe, and the Imezi-Owa/Aguobu-Owa/Awha/Obinofia/Ugwuoba network in Enugu.
Multiple projects in Delta, Katsina, Ondo and Ekiti were assigned between N700 million and N750 million. Additional provisions include N570 million for the Umueze Farm Road Extension and Oboshi Bridge in Delta, N530 million for a rural road at Ohonre, Ugbowo in Edo, and N490 million for Egun Street. Smaller allocations, ranging from N350 million to N175 million, cover roads, bridges, erosion works, concrete walkways and drainage in Abia, Enugu, Delta, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ondo, Anambra, Cross River, Edo, Imo, Lagos, Kogi and other states.
In Abia North alone, more than a dozen community roads carry individual votes of between N175 million and N315 million. Bayelsa entries include concrete walkways and roads in Ekowei, Igbogene and Kulama, a concrete landing jetty in Kokologbene, and a walkway with drainage in Kaima. Northern states such as Kano, Sokoto and Katsina also feature road and bridge projects under the college’s vote.
The findings raise questions about budgetary alignment and oversight, given the disconnect between the college’s educational mandate and the scale of infrastructure spending assigned to its budget head. Further scrutiny by the National Assembly and anti-corruption agencies is expected as the appropriation process advances.
