The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has refuted reports alleging it earmarked ₦140 million in its 2026 budget for the rehabilitation of Emir palaces and mosques in Kaduna State, insisting the claim is inaccurate and based on a misrepresentation of budget documents.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Ministry’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Henrietta Okokon, the Ministry described the reports as false and misleading, stressing that the disputed allocations do not appear in its headquarters’ budget.
According to the Ministry, the budget items being cited belong to the Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, Plateau State—a self-accounting institution with its own independently prepared and funded budget.
It explained that, in addition to the projects relating to Emir palaces and mosques, several unrelated items contained in the college’s budget had also been wrongly attributed to the Ministry, creating the mistaken impression that it had proposed funding for projects outside its statutory responsibilities.
“The budgetary provisions being referenced are not contained in the Headquarters Budget of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development,” the statement said, adding that the reports had blurred the distinction between the Ministry’s budget and those of agencies under its supervision.
The Ministry urged journalists, civil society groups and members of the public to carefully distinguish between the Ministry’s budget and the separate appropriations of its agencies before making interpretations or publishing reports.
Responding to concerns raised by the controversy, the Ministry acknowledged the need for greater clarity in budget proposals submitted by institutions under its oversight and pledged to improve coordination with its agencies to ensure future submissions align more closely with their mandates and are easier for the public to understand.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability and prudent management of public funds, the Ministry also appealed to media organisations to verify budget information with appropriate government authorities before publication to curb the spread of misleading reports.