—Prioritises Capital Projects, Social Services and Fiscal Discipline
Abia State has taken a bold step toward deepening its developmental transformation as Governor Alex Otti, presented a landmark ₦1.016 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly for consideration.
Unlike previous cycles, the 2026 proposal, christened “Budget of Acceleration and New Possibilities,” places unprecedented emphasis on capital investments, with ₦811.8 billion (80%) dedicated to infrastructure and socio-economic projects, and ₦204.4 billion (20%) set aside for recurrent obligations. The overall budget represents a 13% rise from the 2025 allocation.
Speaking at the Assembly Chambers, Governor Otti explained that the new fiscal plan reflects the state’s determination to consolidate ongoing reforms and fast-track sustainable growth.
“This budget captures the scale of our ambition to drive rapid socioeconomic growth through strategic investments in infrastructure, social services, security and other critical sectors central to the transformation of Abia State,” Otti said.
According to him, the capital outlay shows an impressive 32% jump from the previous year’s proposal of ₦726.4 billion, while recurrent expenditure rose by 33%—a necessary adjustment to support essential government functions and accommodate the thousands of new employees recently added to the state workforce.
Governor Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education and healthcare, which jointly account for 35% of the entire budget. Education receives 20%, while health takes 15%, sustaining the government’s drive to enhance learning outcomes and strengthen health systems.
The governor disclosed that the state will intensify its aggressive infrastructure renewal programme in 2026. A total of ₦169.3 billion—16.7% of the full budget, is earmarked for road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance, ensuring that ongoing projects are completed and new ones initiated.
Governor Otti noted that the projections for 2026 are anchored on conservative but credible financial analyses that consider national and global economic trends.
With investor confidence rising and infrastructure development expanding, the state expects its Internally Generated Revenue to grow to ₦223.4 billion next year. He restated his administration’s long-standing principle on borrowing:
“We shall borrow only when absolutely necessary, and only for projects that can pay back the loans in the medium to long term.”
He added that the government aims for all recurrent expenditure in 2026 to be fully funded from IGR, while external funding will be directed exclusively toward capital development.
Governor Otti expressed gratitude to the State Assembly for its continued cooperation and to Abians for their unwavering support. He restated his commitment to building a better, more prosperous state.
Responding, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, commended the governor’s prudent resource management and developmental strides. He assured that the House will accord the budget proposal accelerated consideration.
Deputy Governor Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu and members of the State Executive Council were present at the budget presentation.
