Gov. Nwifuru budgets N884b for 2026 fiscal year 

Uchenna Okeh, Abakaliki 

The governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru has on Tuesday budgeted over 884billion naria for the 2026 fiscal year.

Nwifuru who presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill of N884 billion to the State House of Assembly, stated that this year’s budget is the highest since the creation of the state.

The Nations News reports that the appropriation bill projected ₦469.9 billion as revenue from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), an amount that represents 53.11 percent of the state’s total expected revenue for the fiscal year.

Presenting the budget, tagged “Budget of Actualisation and Hope,” at the House of Assembly in Nkaliki, the Governor announced a total budget size of ₦884.86 billion, the highest in the state’s history. 

He said ₦749.49 billion, representing 84.7 percent of the budget, is allocated to capital projects.

Nwifuru said the projected FAAC inflow would be supported by ₦48.77 billion from tax revenue, ₦17.14 billion from domestic grants, and ₦332 billion from the Capital Development Fund, including World Bank–assisted programmes such as SPIN, RAAMP, LPRES, NG-CARES, SABER, IFAD and NEWMAP.

He said the 2026 budget focuses on infrastructure development, industrialisation, agriculture, water supply and human capital growth. Key infrastructure priorities include the VANCO Tunnel and Flyover, Nwofe and Nwezenyi Flyovers, and several township and rural road projects.

The Governor said the state would continue work on the Ebonyi Industrial City, a proposed state-owned cement factory and the reactivated Waste-to-Wealth plant. 

In the agricultural sector, he listed mechanised farming support, distribution of modern farm equipment, revival of the Nkaliki Hatchery and development of a large-scale feed mill.

On public utilities, he said the reactivation of water schemes in Oferekpe, Ezillo and Iboko would improve potable water access. He also reaffirmed state investments in education, scholarships, free maternal healthcare and empowerment programmes.

Nwifuru urged the House to give the bill expeditious consideration.

The Appropriation Bill passed its first and second readings. 

Earlier in a remark, the Speaker of the House, Moses Ije Odunwa, commended the Governor’s developmental efforts and said the Assembly would thoroughly examine the budget to ensure it reflects the needs of the people.