As Nigeria enters the second half of 2026, questions arise regarding the effectiveness of the country's record budget, which was recently signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Festus Akanbi reviews an analysis by BudgIT that highlights the challenges and concerns surrounding the budget's implementation and its potential impact on the economy.

The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government has refuted allegations that it spent over ₦8 trillion outside of the approved budget, which is estimated to be about two percent of Nigeria's total budget. The government has addressed these claims in a recent statement, emphasizing its adherence to budgetary regulations.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has refuted allegations that over ₦8 trillion was spent outside the 2025 budget, asserting that all public expenditures comply with the country's constitutional and legal framework. This statement was made by Taiwo Oyedele, the Minister of Finance, in response to claims suggesting that approximately two percent of Nigeria's Gross Domestic Product was unaccounted for, according to the Daily Post.

Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has called for President Bola Tinubu to resign after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) claimed that Nigeria did not account for certain public spending in its recent budgets. Christian Ebeke, the IMF’s resident representative in Nigeria, made this assertion on Wednesday, highlighting issues with off-budget expenditures.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern regarding an IMF report that reveals ₦8.8 trillion in federal expenditures were not included in official budget records. He accused the Tinubu administration of operating a "parallel fiscal universe" in the lead-up to the 2027 elections. This statement was made following the release of the IMF's Article IV report on July 1, 2026.

Senator Nwaebonyi stated that President Tinubu inherited a poor road infrastructure and is actively addressing this issue by reconstructing existing roads and creating new ones to link the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. This effort aims to tackle the country's infrastructure deficit.