The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has presented a N1.39 trillion budget for the 2026 fiscal year to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
Presenting the estimates, tagged: “The People’s Budget of Expansion and Growth,” during plenary on Tuesday, Governor Eno said “the 2026 appropriation will address some basic aspects of the ARISE Agenda including strengthening food security and sufficiency, improving living conditions in rural areas, completing ongoing flagship infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, aviation, health facilities, and beginning new ones critical for connectivity, trade, investment and job creation.”
Describing it as a people-centred fiscal plan aimed at expanding growth, deepening infrastructure, and strengthening key sectors of the ARISE Agenda, the Governor further noted that the budget is structured to:
He said; “Strengthen internal security architecture, improve the quality, accessibility and relevance of education at all levels, promote economic diversification and support MSMEs, invest in human capital development and social inclusion, and invest in renewable energy projects and waste-to-wealth initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create green jobs and promote environmental sustainability.”
Governor Eno announced an expenditure framework made up of N354.867 billion for recurrent expenditure, representing 25%, and N1.035 trillion for capital expenditure, representing 75% of the total budget.
According to him, “Allocating 75% to capital expenditure is intentionally meant to accelerate and stimulate economic activities in the state in the 2026 fiscal year.”
He explained that the capital vote includes N387.5 billion for roads and other infrastructure, N31.6 billion for education, and N136.1 billion for health, among others.
The Governor recalled that the 2025 revised budget stood at N1.650 trillion, while the new estimate represents a 16% decrease.
He stated that, “As of September 2025, the total recurrent revenue collected was N897.144 billion, representing 108% of the approved provision for the period January to September.
“The sum of N3.883 billion was realized from other capital receipts excluding recurrent surplus. This represents 15.5 percent of the approved provision for the period. Also, the sum of N231.228 billion was spent on recurrent services… A total of N598.981 billion was spent on capital programmes… which represents 91.4 percent of the approved provision.”
Expressing appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Eno said, “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. 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.”
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, praised the Governor for sustaining what he described as purposeful and people-centered governance.
He said, “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.”
The Speaker added that, the House is particularly interested in how the 2026 budget 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.