The Nigerian National Assembly has approved N9.887billion for the purchase and distribution of tractors, vehicles, buses, tricycles, motorcycles, and fishing boats for traditional rulers and other beneficiaries under the 2026 budget of the Federal Co-operative College, Oji River, Enugu State, despite such projects being outside its legal mandate as an academic institution.
The projects, which are constituency-style interventions, include vehicles for traditional rulers, motorcycles for youths, tricycles for youths and women, buses for farmers, boats for fishermen and security vehicles for farming communities across several states.
The allocations are contained in the 2,790-page 2026 Appropriation Act obtained by SaharaReporters from the Budget Office of the Federation.
A review of pages 731 to 761 of the budget document showed that the projects were inserted under the capital expenditure of the Federal Co-operative College, Oji River, Enugu State, despite the institution's core mandate being focused on academic and professional training in cooperative education and management.
Checks by SaharaReporters on the official website of the Federal Co-operative College, Oji River, showed that there is no provision empowering the institution to execute nationwide transportation empowerment projects or public infrastructure contracts in or across communities or cities.
