Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Tuesday presented a proposed 2026 budget of N757.6 billion to the State House of Assembly, marking a 41 per cent jump from the current year’s N607 billion and the largest in the state’s history.
Dubbed the “Budget of Accelerated Economic Transformation and Inclusive Development”, the fiscal plan allocates N557.8 billion (73.6 per cent) to capital projects and N199.8 billion (26.4 per cent) to recurrent expenditure, reflecting Soludo’s continued emphasis on infrastructure and human capital.
“Today, I lay before this honourable House the 2026 budget proposal of N757,619,812,249,” Soludo told lawmakers during the presentation at the Assembly complex in Awka. “This is a budget that will consolidate our gains, accelerate transformation, and deliver inclusive prosperity to every Anambra citizen.”
Key sectoral highlights include N285 billion for infrastructure – covering roads, bridges, and erosion control – and N98 billion for education, which the governor described as “the cornerstone of our future”. Health receives N46 billion, while agriculture and youth empowerment are allocated N38 billion and N22 billion respectively.
Soludo stressed that the budget is fully funded without new borrowings, relying on internally generated revenue projected to rise to N158 billion and federal allocations. “We have deliberately avoided debt-financed expenditure,” he said. “Every kobo in this budget is backed by realistic revenue forecasts and zero recourse to loans.”
The governor highlighted ongoing flagship projects, including the N350 billion Anambra Strategic Economic Blueprint and the construction of the Amansea-Awa-Ufuma-Okigwe road linking Anambra with Imo State. “By 2026, we intend to deliver over 400 kilometres of quality roads and make Anambra the first state in Nigeria with functional street lighting across all major towns,” he pledged.
Speaker of the House Somtochukwu Udeze commended the proposal, assuring speedy legislative scrutiny. “We will give this budget the expeditious attention it deserves because the people of Anambra are eager to see these promises become reality,” Udeze said.
Opposition voices, however, urged caution on revenue projections. Former lawmaker Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne told ANN: “N757 billion sounds ambitious, but the real test is execution. Anambra people want to see these billions translate into jobs, security, and affordable living, not just figures on paper.”
Budget passage is expected before the end of December, allowing implementation to commence on 1 January 2026.
