Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, on Tuesday presented a ₦1.016 trillion budget proposal for 2026 to the State House of Assembly, outlining an ambitious fiscal plan anchored on massive capital investments and expanded economic growth.
The proposed spending plan, titled “Budget of Acceleration and New Possibilities,” marks a 13 percent increase from the 2025 budget of ₦811.8 billion. Under the new proposal, capital expenditure dominates with 80 percent of the allocation, while recurrent expenditure is pegged at ₦204.41 billion, or 20 percent.
According to the breakdown, the capital vote of ₦811.8 billion represents a 32 percent rise from the 2025 figure of ₦726.4 billion. Education and health once again feature prominently, receiving 20 percent and 15 percent of the budget respectively — a combined 35 percent dedicated to human capital development.
Governor Otti said the budget reflects the administration’s push to accelerate infrastructure projects and social services that form the backbone of Abia’s ongoing transformation. He explained that the fiscal projections for 2026 are based on cautious economic estimates guided by trends observed in 2025 and expert forecasts.
“Recurrent expenditure has also been adjusted upward by 33 percent from last year’s ₦136 billion,” Otti said. “This is essential to support the daily operations of government and meet obligations to personnel, particularly following the recruitment of thousands of new workers.”
The governor reaffirmed his commitment to continuing the administration’s road infrastructure drive, disclosing that ₦169.3 billion — 16.7 percent of the entire budget — has been allocated to road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance across the state.
Otti also announced an expected rise in the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) to ₦223.4 billion in 2026, with a renewed target for all recurrent expenses to be funded from IGR. He restated that external borrowing will remain minimal and strictly dedicated to infrastructure capable of repaying such loans over time.
He expressed appreciation to the Speaker and members of the State House of Assembly for their ongoing support, and thanked Abians for their confidence in his administration.
Responding, Speaker Emmanuel Emeruwa praised Governor Otti’s fiscal discipline and developmental priorities. He assured that the Assembly would fast-track consideration of the budget.
Leave a Reply