Questions have emerged over the inclusion of about N46.6 billion worth of road, bridge, drainage, erosion and flood-control projects in the 2026 capital budget of the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, Enugu State.
A review of the 2,790-page 2026 Appropriation Act reportedly shows that the projects are spread across several states, including Enugu, Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Katsina, Sokoto and Kano.
The budget entries, which appear on pages 731 to 761 of the appropriation document, cover a wide range of infrastructure interventions, despite the college's primary mandate being centred on cooperative education and management.
The Federal Cooperative College was allocated N226.774 billion in the 2026 budget, with N225.632 billion designated for capital expenditure.
Of that capital provision, N46.616 billion was assigned to various infrastructure projects, representing roughly one-fifth of the college's capital budget.
Some of the larger allocations include N2.1 billion for road projects in selected communities in Anambra State, N1.9 billion for the Baddore-Lukosi Road and N1.75 billion for rural farming roads in the South-South.
Other projects received N1.4 billion each, including roads in Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ekiti State, selected farming communities in the South-West, farm roads in Ogun State and the Shimawa-Kaniyi Road.
In Gombe State, N1.05 billion was provided for rural farm roads in Akko Federal Constituency, while another N1.05 billion was earmarked for the Imezi-Owa, Aguobu-Owa, Awha, Obinofia and Ugwuoba road network in Enugu State.
The budget also contains numerous allocations below N1 billion for roads and other infrastructure. These include N570 million for the Umueze Farm Road Extension and Oboshi Bridge in Delta State, N530 million for a rural road at Ohonre-Ugbowo in Edo State, N490 million for Egun Street and N455 million for rural farm roads in Batsari, Katsina State.
Several smaller projects, with individual provisions ranging from N175 million to N350 million, are also listed across the country. They cover road construction, bridges, drainage, erosion control, flood mitigation and walkways.
Abia State features prominently among the beneficiaries, with multiple road projects in communities including Eziama-Agbo, Obinulo, Umuaku, Mbala, Ngodo, Amuda, Lokpaukwu, Lomara, Akanu Ukwu, Isiugwu, Ndiorieke-Eziafor, Ebem and Elu Ohafia.
Bayelsa also has provisions for concrete walkways and roads in Ekowei, Igbogene and Kulama, alongside a concrete landing jetty in Kokologbene and a walkway with drainage in Kaima.
In Enugu State, the document provides N175 million for the Afor Nachi Road linking the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, N105 million for Ebe Road, N35 million for Amaka Oduma Road, N56 million for an Awh-A farm access road and another N105 million for selected community roads.
An additional N350 million each was allocated to road and erosion-control projects within the Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency.
Infrastructure projects are also listed in northern states such as Kano, Sokoto and Katsina, as well as parts of Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Delta, Lagos, Kogi, Ogun and Ekiti.
The scale and geographic spread of the projects have raised questions about why such nationwide infrastructure spending was placed under the capital budget of an educational institution.
The arrangement could prompt scrutiny over the ownership of the projects, the process through which they were assigned to the college and the rationale for their inclusion in its budget.
The development also highlights broader concerns about budgetary transparency and whether government institutions are being used as channels for funding projects outside their core statutory responsibilities.
