Gov Umo Eno Presents N1.3 Trillion 2026 Budget Estimates to AKHA

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has presented a budget of N1,39 trillion for the the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly.

Governor Eno made the presentation of the budget christened, “The People’s Budget of Expansion and Growth,” on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, during a plenary of the State House of Assembly at the Assembly Complex, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo.

Governor Eno said the 2026 appropriation was designed to address some basic aspects of the ARISE Agenda including strengthening food security and sufficiency; improving living conditions in rural areas; completing ongoing flagship infrastructure project including roads, bridges, aviation, health facilities and begin new ones critical for connectivity, trade, investment and job creation.

The Governor also said the 2026 budget seeks to strengthen internal security architecture, improve the quality, accessibility and relevance of education at all levels, promote economic diversification and support MSME, invest in human capital development and social inclusion; and to invest in renewable energy projects and waste to wealth initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emission, create green jobs and promote environmental sustainability.

According to the Governor, the estimate of expenditure for 2026 is made up of N354.867 billion for Recurrent Expenditure or 25% of the budget and N1,035 trillion for Capital Expenditure, representing 75% of the total budget.

According to the Governor, allocating 75% of the total budget to capital expenditure is intended to accelerate and stimulate economic activities in the state in the 2026 fiscal year.

“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,” he said.

As against the approved revised provision of N1,650,000,000,000 (One Trillion, Six Hundred and Fifty Billion Naira) only for the 2025 fiscal year, the 2026 budget shows a decrease of 16 per cent.

According to the Governor, a total of ₦955.000 billion was approved for 2025 Fiscal Year, and was however revised to N1.650 trillion with a total recurrent expenditure of ₦425.666 billion and the capital provision of ₦1.224 trillion.

He further noted that as of September 2025, the total recurrent revenue collected was N897.144 billion, representing 108% of the approved provision for the period (January – September).

“The sum of N3.883 billion was realized from other capital Receipts excluding recurrent surplus. This represents 15.5% of the approved provision for the period.

“Also, the sum of N231.228 billion was spent on Recurrent Services within the period under review. This represents 77.1% of the approved provision.

“A total of N598.981 billion was spent on Capital programmes within the same period, which represents 91.4% of the approved provision,” he added.

The Governor appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the bold act of removing petroleum subsidy, which, according to him, has enabled states to have more funds and resources to execute both recurrent and capital projects.

“Today, 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,” he added.

In his remark, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Udeme Otong, commended the Governor for his visionary leadership, noting that the ARISE Agenda has moved beyond being a policy statement to making tangible impact – touching communities, empowering households, and strengthening the pillars of the State’s economy.

He noted that the most commendable hallmarks of the Governor’s leadership is his commitment to taking government closer to the grassroots.

The Speaker stressed that in the 2026 budget, the House of Assembly is particularly interested in how the fiscal plan will reinforce the priority areas of the ARISE Agenda; with improved support for education, healthcare, tourism, creative industries, and other key sectors capable of reducing reliance on federal allocation.