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Abia State Government is to spend a total sum of one trillion, sixteen billion, two hundred and twenty-eight million, seventy-two thousand, six hundred and fifty-one naira, ninety-nine kobo
(N1,016,228,072,651.99) in the 2026 fiscal year.

Presenting the budget proposal christened “Budget of Acceleration and New Possibilities” to the Abia State House of Assembly in Umuahia, the governor of the state, Dr Alex Otti, explained that the 2026 Appropriation Bill, which has 13 percent increase from the 2025 budget, has the sum of N811,813,769,862.24 representing 80 percent of the estimate as capital expenditure, while N204,414,302,789.75 is for recurrent expenditure.

According to the governor, “This figure represents a 13% increase from the 2025 appropriation numbers and captures the scale of our ambition to drive rapid socioeconomic growth and sustained development through investments in infrastructural projects, social services, security, and similar outlays that are at the heart of the ongoing transformation of the state.

His word, “A total outlay of N811.8 billion for capital projects represents a 32% jump from our 2025 proposal, which stood at N726.4billion.

“Conversely, the size of the envelope for recurrent expenditure has been raised by 33% from last year’s figure, which stood at N136 billion. The increase is to enable us to support critical day-to-day administrative functions and effectively meet our obligations to personnel, especially with the addition of thousands of new employees to the payroll.”

While explaining the rationale for allocating 20 percent of the total budget to education and 15 percent to health, Otti assured that his administration would continue its aggressive road infrastructure development programme in 2026.

He described the move as the reason it allocated the sum of N169.3 billion, representing 16.7% of the total envelope, to road construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and maintenance.

The budgetary outlook for the 2026 fiscal year, he asserted, is based on a set of conservative estimates drawing from the economic dynamics of 2025 and the forecast of credible financial analysis.

The governor opined that with the recent strides recorded in infrastructural development and the leap in investors’ confidence, the state projects an increase in the state’s IGR portfolio to N223.4 billion.

He announced that “the target for 2026 is that all recurrent expenditures shall be funded from our IGR receipts, while what is raised from external sources would be committed strictly to infrastructural development.

“As I announced on this same podium in 2023 and 2024, we shall borrow only when it is necessary, and such funds shall be deployed only for the execution of projects that will ultimately liquidate the loans in medium to long term”.

Otti used the forum to thank the Speaker of the 24-man assembly and other lawmakers for the support given to him in his efforts to improve the lives of Abians, even as he thanked the people for their sustained support of his administration.

Otti assured them of the commitment of his government to making lives better for the people.

Responding, the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa commended the governor for his prudent management of the state’s resources and appreciated his efforts in developing the state

Hon Emeruwa assured the governor of the readiness of lawmakers to give the Appropriation Bill an accelerated hearing and earlier passage.

Present at the event were the Deputy Governor of the state, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu and members of Abia State Executive Council.