Fresh scrutiny has trailed public spending in Nigeria after records showed the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development spent ₦148.6 million on a Toyota Prado SUV amid persistent funding constraints and rising government borrowing.
Fresh scrutiny has emerged over public spending in Nigeria following records showing the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development expended ₦148.6 million on the procurement of a Toyota Prado SUV despite ongoing concerns over funding constraints affecting key government projects. Payment records indicate the ministry paid ₦148,651,162.79 to Lanre Shittu Motors on March 30, 2026, for the supply of “1no of Toyota Prado VX 2023 automatic transmission” for the Federal Public Asset Maintenance Department, with the transaction recorded under reference number 1001388007-1.
The expenditure comes amid repeated concerns over delayed release of capital allocations to ministries, departments and agencies, with several reporting difficulties accessing funds for infrastructure and development projects. During the 2026 budget defence session with the House Committee on Healthcare Services in Abuja, Coordinating Minister of Health, Muhammad Ali Pate said delays in releasing Nigeria’s counterpart funding contributions affected access to certain funds and stalled implementation of the 2025 capital budget. He also said the capital component was impacted by the bottom-up cash planning system operated by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The development also comes against a backdrop of rising government borrowing, with Bola Tinubu in March seeking Senate approval for $6 billion in external loans, including a $5 billion facility from Abu Dhabi Bank to support budget financing and debt obligations. Four months earlier, the World Bank approved a $1 billion Development Policy Financing loan for Nigeria under the Nigeria Actions for Investment and Jobs Acceleration initiative, further highlighting concerns over fiscal pressures as questions grow over government spending priorities.
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