•Governor Umo Eno presenting the 2026 “People’s Budget” proposal to the State Assembly
Being the full text of the speech by His Excellency, Pastor Umo Eno, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, during the presentation of the 2026 Budget to Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, yesterday, Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
Protocol
1. Mr. Speaker, the Honourable members of this esteemed House, and other invited guests, today, I come before you, as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended demands, to present to you the Estimates of the Expenditures for the Year 2026, which we have titled: “The People’s Budget of Expansion and Growth”.
2. Before I proceed to present the budget, allow me to give thanks to God Almighty for the grace, guidance and invisible Hands He has so generously extended, the protective cover and guidance He has also, so deeply blessed us with in the past one year, since I last stood here before you.
To Him alone be all the honour, glory and adoration.
3. Mr. Speaker and Honourable members, a lot has happened in the course of the last one year. When I came before you here, last year, we were members of another political party.
4. Today, because we made the decision based on enlightened state interest and on the accurate reading of the signs of time as the children of Issachar did, and the need to massively and wholesomely support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, to continue in office with his bold and audacious reform policies beyond 2027, we Progressively moved and are now proud members of the All Progressive Congress, the APC. The Homecoming event we had across all the 369 wards last weekend, was a huge success. The State is solidly APC, and greatly aligned with the Centre and this is good and strategic.
5. Let me thank you, Mr. Speaker and the Honourable members of the House of Assembly, for deciding based on deep convictions to take the Progressive walk with us. This House is today, overwhelmingly APC – 24 out of 26 members are with us, the State Executive Council is overwhelmingly APC, Local Government Chairmen – 30 out of 31 are APC, all the major structures of governance in the State are manifestly APC- across the Wards, Local Government chapters, the State and indeed the greater political space of our State and people, have progressively joined us in this great movement.
6. Mr. Speaker and Honourable members, in the past two years plus, we have made tremendous strides across all five pillars of our governance blueprint – the Arise Agenda and the 17 focal areas.
7. Let me at this point, thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for that bold act he took by removing the petroleum subsidy which today, has made it possible for states to have more funds and resources to execute both recurrent and capital projects.
8. 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 and have earmarked resources to complete all the projects we have initiated. 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.
9. Our agricultural revolution is on course as work is ongoing at the Ibom Model Farm, in Nsit Ubium. All across our State, our people have imbibed the spirit of returning to the farm to plant our staple foods. The Ministry of Agriculture has been distributing farm implements, fertilizers, tractors and we will redouble our efforts in this critical sector next year.
As we speak, 69,107 (sixty-nine thousand one hundred and seven) farmers have benefited from our agricultural revolution; 13,060 registered farmers have benefited from Agric processing machines and equipment we have purchased for our farmers.
10. The palm tree crop revolution, which we plan to launch soon, will create a generational wealth for our people, especially those in the rural areas.
11. Palm oil was our black gold- the commodity that had empowered our people, helped send some of our best and brightest sons and daughters to study abroad long before crude oil and gas were discovered. Through this revolution, government will actively get involved in palm tree planting and will eventually off-take from our farmers. To make this project take off and run smoothly, I recently directed AKADEP, to be moved from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and a massive renovation exercise is ongoing in the facility. I intend to visit the facility from this presentation. We have bought tractors to aid our farmers, we will commission the tractor leasing company in December.
12. We remain intentional in ensuring that there are ongoing projects in all the 31 local government areas- from model primary schools to model healthcare centres, 78 new feeder roads, 30 wet markets, water projects, electricity etc, all in line with our desire to stem rural- urban migration and ensure a good quality of life for our rural dwellers.
13. We are currently constructing over 900 kilometres of road across the state some have already been commissioned while others are ongoing. I made a promise during my campaign that we will not abandon any viable uncompleted road projects from previous administrations and so far, we have kept our promise.
14. There is no Senatorial District in this State that we have not touched, either with a new road project or those whom we have deployed our finisher’s anointing to complete and commission. Akwa Ibom State I must re-emphasize, has possibly the best road network of all the sub-nationals in the Nation and we stand ready to do more in this critical area. Beginning 1st December, we will commence fixing all potholes within the capital city of the State.
Also, Government has made provision for one project each for the 31 Local Government Areas taken specifically from the NEEDS documents earlier submitted by the 10 Federal Constituencies of the State during our Town Square Meetings.
The outcome of this budget is based on citizens inputs documents as submitted to government during The State-Wide Town Square Meetings or Needs Assessment. In other words, it is a citizens-oriented budget.
15. We are working very hard to continue keeping our state safe and secure.
16. Let me thank our partners in the state security architecture – our dedicated service commanders for the robust collaborations we have enjoyed in the last two and half years. We would not have achieved this Nationally known feat without their support. We thank and celebrate them greatly.
17. We recently launched our Security Trust Fund and we thank all those who have contributed and assure them that our State will continue to remain the oasis of peace and tranquility. Peace is the catalyst for development and we will continue to pursue and deepen this important element of our social contract.
18. I call on our leaders not to inflame unnecessary passion as the political season unfolds. Politics must and should not divide us. Even if you don’t agree with us, I enjoin us all to play politics with decorum, with decency, without name -calling or the push to pit brothers and sisters against one another. Remember, politics is dynamic. The brother or sister you wish to destroy today may become your ally tomorrow.
19. We continue to see education as the way out of poverty. We are not just providing education for our children, but functional education – one that prepares them for the opportunities that today’s technology-enabled world provides.
That is what informed our decision to construct and equip our model primary schools with all the modern amenities because once you catch them young at the primary level, you have succeeded in preparing them for a more robust educational pursuit and opportunities for success. We plan to construct model secondary schools in all the three senatorial districts, beginning with the pilot in Uyo Senatorial District.
20. We are regularly paying bursaries to students in tertiary instructions, giving grants to students living with disabilities and continue to support our tertiary institutions with grants.
21. We recently declared an emergency in the healthcare sector, and have directed that 1,300 retired healthcare professionals who are still strong to be re-engaged. I have also directed the employment of additional 2,000 healthcare professionals, to help beef our workforce in this critical sector.
22. We are upgrading and equipping 8 General Hospitals and 29 existing Primary Healthcare Centres. Last week, we commissioned the General Hospital in Ukanafun – a long desired medical facility for the people of that Local Government Area.
Our hospitals have a more comprehensive drugs distribution mechanism and drugs are readily available to take care of the sick amongst us. Oxygen plants are functioning optimally at our Isolation Centre in Ituk Mbang, Abak and Eket respectively same as our molecular laboratory also in Ituk Mbang. The Senior Citizens’ Centre in Ibiono Ibom, is expected to be commissioned soon.
23. We are training and re-training our medical personnel and all these are geared towards ensuring that we have a healthy and productive population. We have awarded contracts for the building of an international hospital with such departments as oncology, to detect early cancer symptoms and other diseases. We are also constructing along the medical corridor, a stand-alone, purpose-built international diagnostic centre. This diagnostic centre, would be accredited by all international bodies. The diagnoses that will be recorded at this centre will be accepted by hospitals the world over. This is an audacious project that is captured in the 2026 budget and again, fulfills our campaign promises in healthcare delivery services.
24. In Aviation, Housing and Sports we continue to support Ibom Air to remain the best and most preferred airline in the Nation and the overall aviation ecosystem. Work is ongoing at the Aviation Village and we have successfully installed the lighting at the Victor Attah International Airport, which allows aircraft to land at night.
We are working closely with aviation stakeholders and the regulatory agencies to commence operations at the International Terminal as well as our MRO.
25. In the housing sector, work is also ongoing at the Judiciary village, Ewet Luxury Estate, Aviation Village, Medical Village and next year, we hope to commence work both in the Legislative and Commissioners’ quarters. We had earlier commissioned 236 units at the Grace Estate and had handed over 150 units to Civil Servants between Grade Levels 1 to 8.
26. We remain dedicated to discovering talents who would go on to represent us at both National and International sporting events and earlier this year, we held our State sports festival during which new talents were discovered. Work is ongoing at the Sports Academy in Eket. Sports I must reemphasize is a multi-billion naira business and we want to expose our youths to get a little piece of the pie.
27. In the area of social investments, job creation and poverty alleviation, 49,902 people have been engaged in various projects we are currently undertaking. N9.3 billion have so far been expended in various grants to help our people get out of poverty.
28. We have invested heavily in ensuring that the most vulnerable among us are not left behind. To date, through our Arise Compassionate Homes, we have built, equipped and handed over 335 homes to beneficiaries drawn from several wards across the State.
We are on track to building and handing over 500 of such homes to the beneficiaries before the end of our first term in office.
29. The fifty thousand Naira support we provide to 600 elders monthly drawn from all the 369 wards remains in effect as well as free food distribution programme.
To date, 10,408 active households have benefited from our Community and Social Development Agency intervention.
30. Out of the N110 billion backlog of gratuities we inherited dating back to 2012, we have, under two years plus since we came in, paid to date, over 75 billion clearing in the process backlogs to March 2021. This month, I released an additional N 1.3 billion to further reduce the backlog. You will agree with me that, this is indeed a great achievement. By next year, we will continue to reduce the backlog until everything is cleared.
31. We have placed heavy premium in human capacity development and the promotion of SMEs. Over three thousand of our youths have been trained and given start-up grants through the Entrepreneurial Accelerator Programme (EAP) run by Ibom-LED.
32. We have also supported the Dakkada Skills Acquisition Centre (DACS) to commence operations and graduated the first set of trainees.
We have a N2 billion matching fund with the Bank of Industry (BoI) to enable our people to borrow at single digit interest rate; this fund is available to be drawn by farmers and traders. We are doing all we can to ensure that we promote SMEs as the engine of economic growth and an easy pathway to the middle class. In the 2026 Budget, we have made provision for N31 billion Naira to support SME Programs across all the Local Government Areas.
33. Tourism is a critical area that we are priming our State for a life beyond oil. We are building the 5,000 capacity International Convention Centre; the 200-room Ibom Hotels; the Arise Shopping City all located within the Tropicana grounds. We are renovating the Ibom Hotels and Golf resorts, to bring it up to speed with modern features.
34. We are wrapping up construction in the Arise Palm Resort-one of our most audacious tourism project in the state. Work is ongoing at the Ibom Towers and Apartment in Lagos and awaiting approvals of our designs for the award of contract for the construction of Ibom Hotels in Abuja. We are priming and preparing our state for sustainable growth through different streams of income by utilizing our previously moribund assets.
35. We recently held our Power Summit and came up with action plans for the sector. By next year, you will begin to see the effects of this, in that all-important sector. Our CNG-enabled bus services, we hope, will become functional next year.
36. We continue to work hard and put the building blocks for the realization of our Ibom Deep Seaport. Access road has been created.
37. We hope to complete most of the work currently ongoing at the Oron Marine Infrastructure project next year, to help improve our blue economy and, of course, the passenger ferries which would make it easier for our people to travel to and from Oron to Calabar in Cross River State.
38. Mr. Speaker, in about two and a half years, we have done a lot across sectors and remain dedicated to expanding these achievements with the Budget we are presenting before the House this afternoon
39. THE POLICY THRUST AND OBJECTIVES
The policy thrust of the 2026 budget, which is titled THE PEOPLE’S BUDGET OF EXPANSION AND GROWTH will be anchored on the ARISE Agenda of the present administration. This includes;
a) Strengthen food security and sufficiency by expanding mechanized agriculture small-holder producers and promote value chains. Income earning potentials of rural households will be enhanced through home farm schemes, provision of access to farm inputs, credit and extension services as well as agro-processing support.
b) Improve living conditions in rural areas. Government will electrify rural communities, upgrade and construct rural roads, renovate primary healthcare facilities and build modern markets, schools, recreation facilities to improve quality of lives in the rural areas.
c) Complete ongoing flagship infrastructure project including roads, bridges, aviation, health facilities and begin new ones critical for connectivity, trade, investment and job creation.
d) Strengthen internal security architecture including community-based initiatives, digital surveillance and water ways protection to ensure peace and protect lives and property.
e) Improve the quality, accessibility and relevance of education at all levels, through equipping of schools, training and re-training of dedicated teachers, expanding ICT capability and facilitating inclusive access for vulnerable groups.
f) Promote economic diversification and support MSME: government will continue to create jobs for citizens and enlarge that part of economic prosperity by expanding opportunities for growth in business, leisure and tourism as well as continue to attract foreign investment by creating a business-friendly environment.
g) Invest in human capital development and social inclusion: targeted programs will be developed for vulnerable groups including women, children and persons with disabilities to promote social equity.
The state will invest in youth development initiatives such as youth development centers in thirty-one (31) Local Government Areas to harness the potential of the young population for economic growth.
h) Streamline the tax system to reduce redundancies, improve compliance and enhance business confidence as well as continue to leverage technology to track high income earners and formalize the informal sector to ensure fair taxation without stifling business growth.
i) Invest in renewable energy projects and waste to wealth initiatives to reduce green-house gas emission, create green jobs and promote environmental sustainability.
j) Promote accountability, transparency, fiscal discipline and value for money. Adhere to the State Fiscal Responsibility and Public Procurement laws, minimize wastages, leakages and corruption and publish regular accessible reports to stakeholders.
k) Enhancement of transportation system in the State through provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and construction of marine aluminum passenger ferry boat.
l) Promote tourism investment to transform the State Economy from crude oil-dependent into a diversified and vibrant service economy.
m) Invest strategically in tourism to diversify the State economy, create employment opportunities, boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)
n) Completion of Ibom Medical City and rehabilitation of secondary and primary health facilities in the State. Efforts will be made to recruit and train medical personnel, expand insurance coverage and integrate Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects.
40. REVIEW OF THE PERFORMANCE OF 2025 BUDGET
Mr. Speaker, a total of ₦955.000 billion was approved for 2025 Fiscal Year.
This was however revised to N1.650 trillion with a total recurrent expenditure of ₦425.666 billion and the capital provision of ₦1.224 trillion. The breakdown is as follows:
i) Recurrent Expenditure – ₦425.664 billion
ii) Capital Expenditure – ₦1.224 trillion
TOTAL – ₦1.650 trillion
As at September, 2025, the total recurrent revenue collected was N897.144 billion representing 108% of the approved provision for the period (January – September).
The sum of N3.883 billion was realised from other capital Receipts excluding recurrent surplus. This represents 15.5% of the approved provision for the period.
Also, the sum of N231.228 billion was spent on Recurrent Services within the period under review. This represents 77.1% of the approved provision.
A total of N598.981 billion was spent on Capital programmes within the same period which represents 91.4% of the approved provision.
The total expenditure within the period, January to September, 2025 was N830.210 billion. This represents 86.9% of the approved provision.
Our total Budget Expenditure is described in detail in the Budget Implementation Report, which has been prepared to facilitate your consideration of the draft 2026 Budget.
41. THE 2026 BUDGET SIZE
Government has proposed a total budgetary outlay of N1,390,000,000,000 (One Trillion, Three Hundred and Ninety Billion Naira) only for the 2026 Financial Year as against the approved revised provision of N1,650,000,000,000 (One Trillion, Six Hundred and Fifty Billion Naira) only of 2025 representing a decrease of 16% from the 2025 revised budget.
The total budget outlay of N1,390,000,000.00 (One Trillion, Three Hundred and Ninety Billion Naira) is made of N354.867 billion for Recurrent Expenditure or 25% of the budget and N1,035 trillion for Capital Expenditure, representing 75% of the total budget. The allocation of 75% of the total budget to capital expenditure is intentionally meant to accelerate and stimulate economic activities in the state in the 2026 fiscal year. The capital expenditure estimate consists of N387.5 billion for Roads and other Infrastructure, N31.6 billion for Education and N136.1 billion for Health among others.
2026 PROPOSED PROVISION
PERCENTAGE
Recurrent Expenditure
N354.867 billion
25%
Capital Expenditure
N1.035 trillion
75%
Total
₦1.390 trillion
42. STATE GOVERNMENT REVENUE ESTIMATES
The total projected Recurrent Revenue for 2026 is estimated at ₦1.146 trillion as against the approved revised provision of ₦1.259 trillion representing 9% decrease in revenue projection for the year 2026.
43. RECURRENT EXPENDITURE
For the 2026 Fiscal Year, Recurrent Expenditure which is proposed at ₦354.866 billion is made up of:
i.) Personnel Cost – N 131.151 billion
ii.) Overhead Cost – N 223.716 billion
Total Recurrent Expenditure – N 354.867 billion
44. CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
The total Capital Receipts and Expenditure for the year 2026 is estimated at N1.035 trillion as against the approved revised provision of N1.224 trillion for 2025. A total projected Capital Receipts shows that N791.978 billion will be transferred from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, while the balance of N243.155 billion is to be realized from other capital receipts.
45. The Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, will as usual, provide additional details on the sectoral allocations. Let us reiterate that the 2026 people’s budget for growth and expansion reflects the request made by the stakeholders of each of the 31 Local Government Areas during our Town Square Meetings. The funds allocated to each of these 31 projects will be disclosed by the Hon. Commissioner for Budget during his planned media briefing
46. CONCLUSION
Let me again thank you Mr. Speaker and the Honourable Members of this House for your kind attention. I urge you to speedily pass this budget so we may continue to work for our people and galvanize them to Arise and be all that God desires for us to be.
Our governance compass, the Arise Agenda, is on a steady course, the achievements we have recorded in the past two years plus are inspiring. Let us continue to stay together in peace and in harmony so our people can thrive in this great Land of Promise.
Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, God bless Akwa Ibom State.
