Allegations of Phantom Council in Nigeria's 2026 Budget

Adeniyi Adeyemi has been appointed as the Director-General of a council that has been described as 'phantom' by Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Adeyemi's claims about the council's role in facilitating foreign investment in Nigeria have been met with skepticism, particularly after Gbajabiamila issued a disclaimer stating that the council does not exist.

This controversy coincided with Gbajabiamila's birthday and has led to public concerns regarding the legitimacy of the council and its alleged budget allocation of approximately N1.3 billion for 2026. Adeyemi has countered the denial, asserting that the council's budget line items, including salaries and logistics for a world investment summit, were included in the official budget documents.

He criticized the government's response as an attempt to silence legitimate questions about the council's existence and its implications for public trust in government processes.