Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba and Okon Bassey in Uyo 

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State yesterday allocated a lion’s share of 70 per cent of the more than N1.664 billion total budget estimates for the 2026 fiscal year to capital expenditure.

The governor disclosed this while presenting the Appropriation Bill to the Delta State House of Assembly, indicating the Oborevwori administration’s bullish drive for massive infrastructure to strengthen socio-economic development in the 2026 fiscal year.

Christened “Budget of Accelerating the M.O. R.E Agenda”, the budget, according to Oborevwori, was advised by the federal government’s determination to improve the national economy.

He observed that certain indices, including rising oil revenues, stabilising fiscal and monetary policies, tax reforms, and renewed federal efforts in tackling insecurity, have bolstered confidence for possible economic expansion and improved living standard.

The governor explained that the 2026 budget is designed to drive inclusive and sustainable growth, develop human capital, accelerate infrastructure renewal, enhance social cohesion, reduce debt exposure, and ensure better resource management.

He said that of the total budget size, N499 billion (30 per cent) is proposed for recurrent expenditure, while N1.165 trillion (70 per cent) is earmarked for capital projects, representing a 70 per cent increase over the 2025 appropriation.

On revenue expectations, Oborevwori stated that the state anticipates significant improvement in federal allocations following the removal of fuel subsidy.

Statutory Allocation including mineral derivation is projected at N720 billion, accounting for 43.28 per cent of total revenue, reflecting a 23.75 per cent rise from the previous year. He also disclosed that ongoing reforms in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) collection are expected to yield N250 billion in 2026, an 86.5 per cent increase over 2025, driven by professionalised revenue processes and a broader tax net.

Oborevwori highlighted key sectors earmarked for priority funding in 2026, saying that the Works Ministries (Urban Highways, and Rural and Riverine Roads) will jointly receive N450 billion to accelerate strategic road development across the state.

Education was allocated N105.086 billion to strengthen access to functional learning, while the health sector received N50.067 billion to improve existing infrastructures across 441 primary healthcare centres, 65 general hospitals, and three tertiary facilities.

Welcoming the Governor earlier, Speaker of the Delta State legislature, Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, commended Oborevwori’s leadership qualities, citing significant achievements under the MORE Agenda as including strategic flyovers, expanded road network, improved healthcare facilities, strengthened education and several empowerment programmes.

Guwor also commended the governor for approving the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) and initiating the construction of permanent offices for the Assembly Service Commission.

Also, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno has proposed a budget size of N1.39 trillion for the 2026 fiscal year. Of this amount, N354.867 billion or 25 per cent of total budget  is for recurrent expenditure, while N1,035 trillion representing 75 per cent of the budget goes for capital expenditure.

The governor who proposed the 2026 budget estimates before the State House of Assembly, explained that the budget represents a decrease of N260 billion or 16 percent from the revised 2025 budget. 

The 2026 budget christened, “The People’s Budget of Expansion and Growth”, he said, aims to cater for the needs of the people across the three senatorial districts and stems from the needs documents presented by respective stakeholders during the Town Square Meetings and Empowerment Series across the 10 federal constituencies in the State.

The capital expenditure estimate consists of N387.5 billion for Roads and other Infrastructure, N31.6 billion for Education and N136.1 billion for Health among others.

Additionally, the allocation of 75 per cent of the total budget to capital expenditure is intentionally meant to accelerate and stimulate economic activities in the state in the 2026 fiscal year. 

Eno maintained that his administration was on course with development for the people, from agriculture to rural development, from infrastructure to security and educational advancements, tourism to healthcare, promotion of SMEs to sports, housing, transport among other key sectors.

“We are undertaking bold and audacious projects without borrowing and have earmarked resources to complete all the projects we have initiated. We thank the President again and assure him that to whom much is given, much is expected and we will deliver big for him come 2027.

“As we speak, 69,107 farmers have benefited from our agricultural revolution; 13,060 registered farmers have benefited from Agric processing machines and equipment we have purchased for our farmers. 

“The palm tree crop revolution, which we plan to launch soon, will create a generational wealth for our people, especially those in the rural areas.  Through this revolution, the government will actively get involved in palm tree planting and will eventually off-take from our farmers.

“To make this project take off and run smoothly, I recently directed AKADEP, to be moved from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and a massive renovation exercise is ongoing in the facility. 

“We remain intentional in ensuring that there are ongoing projects in all the 31 local government areas- from model primary schools to model healthcare centres, 78 new feeder roads, 30 wet markets, water projects, electricity etc, all in line with our desire to stem rural- urban migration and ensure a good quality of life for our rural dwellers, “he said

In his response, the Speaker Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, commended the governor on the presentation of the budget, saying it aligns with the State’s ARISE Agenda with emphasis on Agriculture, rural development, healthcare and other things.

He also thanked the governor on behalf of his colleagues, for his promise to remodel the AKHA complex.

“As the 2026 budget is laid before us today, we will, as always, examine it critically to ensure that it aligns with Your Excellency’s vision for our state, through effective oversight, we will ensure that the budget delivers on the promises to stimulate and grow the economy of our Akwa Ibom people. 

“Our aim is not merely to approve figures, but to ensure efficient allocation of resources, elimination of waste, and duplication, centering of physical discipline, prioritising of projects that directly uplift the lives of our citizens, with the ARISE Agenda as our guiding framework, and with continued collaboration between the Executive and the Legislature, I am confident that our state is on the path to unprecedented growth and prosperity.”, the Speaker posited.

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