By Asuquo Edem
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has presented a ₦1.390 trillion proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elder Udeme Otong, describing it as “The People’s Budget of Expansion and Growth.” The appropriation bill, which places significant emphasis on infrastructure and economic expansion, allocates ₦1.035 trillion to capital expenditure and ₦354.8 billion to recurrent expenditure.
Presenting the budget, Governor Eno said the document reflects the priorities of citizens across the 31 Local Government Areas, shaped through inputs generated from the State-wide Town Square Meetings. He explained that the 2026 proposal is anchored firmly on the ARISE Agenda, with a strong focus on boosting food security through mechanised agriculture, strengthening value chains, and expanding home-farm and agro-support programmes. He added that improvements in rural electrification, primary healthcare, modern markets, recreation centres, and the completion of ongoing flagship projects would remain major targets in the coming year.
The governor also announced plans to further enhance the state’s internal security architecture—both on land and water—while advancing educational reforms through improved ICT facilities, better school infrastructure, and continuous training for teachers and civil servants. He emphasised the government’s commitment to supporting small and medium-scale enterprises, creating jobs for citizens, and enhancing the business environment to attract foreign investments.
Governor Eno disclosed that the government will continue to invest in youth development, human capital programmes, and support for persons with disabilities. He said efforts would be made to streamline the state’s tax system and deploy technology to ensure high-income earners are properly captured without inhibiting economic growth. In addition, the 2026 budget prioritises renewable energy investments, environmental sustainability, and improvements to the state’s transport system, including expanded CNG bus services and the deployment of marine passenger boats.
On major infrastructure, the governor reaffirmed progress on the Ibom Deep Seaport in partnership with the Federal Government, noting that documentation was ongoing. He also revealed that passenger ferries would soon ease travel between Oron and Calabar, while the international market in Ikot Ekpene is set to be flagged off in December. He added that each of the 31 LGAs would have one major project drawn from the NEEDS documents earlier submitted by the 10 federal constituencies during the Town Square engagements.
Governor Eno highlighted significant advancements in the housing sector, pointing to ongoing work at the Judiciary Village, Ewet Luxury Estate, Aviation Village, and Medical Village. He said the government hopes to commence work next year on the Legislative and Commissioners’ Quarters, while the completed 236 units at Grace Estate remain available for low-grade civil servants through a balloting system. He also announced an impending “Palm Tree Crop Revolution,” describing palm oil as the state’s original “black gold” that once empowered families long before the oil and gas era. The initiative, he said, will involve government-supported palm tree planting and off-take arrangements designed to create generational wealth, particularly in rural communities.
Providing a review of the 2025 budget, Governor Eno reported that ₦231 billion had been spent on recurrent services, ₦598 billion on capital projects, and a total of ₦830.2 billion expended between January and September, representing an 86% implementation rate of the approved estimates.
In his response, Speaker Udeme Otong commended the governor for what he described as visionary leadership and noted that the budget presentation aligns strongly with the ARISE Agenda. He said the administration’s projects—especially in tourism and infrastructure—have brought renewed hope to citizens and reduced over-dependence on government by stimulating private-sector participation. Otong also expressed appreciation for the release of funds for the renovation of the House of Assembly complex. The bill was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Rules, Business and Privileges for rescheduling, after which the House adjourned to reconvene on December 2, 2025.
It will be recalled that the governor had earlier signed a ₦955 billion budget for 2025, tagged the Budget of Consolidation and Expansion, which was later reviewed upward to ₦1.65 trillion based on revenue adjustments and expanded project commitments.
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