Gov Mbah Presents N1.62 Trillion 2026 Budget, Targets Historic Infrastructure, Education Revolution

Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, on Tuesday presented a landmark ₦1.62 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill to the Enugu State House of Assembly, unveiling what he described as a decisive shift from “laying foundations” to “scaling full transformation across every sector.”

Tagged Budget of Renewed Momentum, the 2026 proposal marks an unprecedented 66.5% increase from the revised 2025 budget, projecting ₦1.296 trillion (80%) for capital projects and ₦321.3 billion (20%) for recurrent expenditure.

Mbah said the budget would be powered by an ambitious ₦870 billion IGR target, ₦387 billion FAAC inflow, and ₦329 billion in capital receipts.

Economic Sector Takes Centre Stage – ₦825.9bn Allocation

The Economic Sector received the largest vote with ₦825.9 billion, representing 51% of the entire budget. Mbah described the allocation as “strategic and deliberate,” stressing that investments in agriculture, trade, industry, and infrastructure would accelerate job creation, expand productivity, and support the administration’s target of seven-fold GDP growth.

Key interventions include:

• Construction of 1,200 urban roads and multiple rural road networks
• Completion of the 40km Owo–Ubahu–Amankanu–Neke–Ikem dual carriageway
• Dualisation of the Abakpa Nike–Ugwogo Nike–Ekwegbe–Opi–Nsukka Road
• Completion of the 21.65km Enugu–Abakaliki Expressway

On transportation, the governor announced plans to expand Enugu Air’s fleet to 20 aircraft, with 14 new acquisitions and three more expected before the end of 2025. Five new ultra-modern transport terminals will be built in Emene, Udi, Awgu, Four Corners (Ozalla), and Obollo-Afor.

Housing also features prominently, with 15% of the entire budget reserved for delivering 15,000 mass housing units, alongside accelerated development at the New Enugu City.

Agriculture will see the expansion of 20-hectare Farm Estates across all 260 wards, many of which are already underway.

Education Leads Again — 32.27% of Total Budget

In line with the administration’s human capital development strategy, education received an unprecedented 32.27%, maintaining a three-year trend of dedicating over 30% of the state’s annual budget to the sector.

Mbah disclosed that with the 260 Smart Green Schools now completed or nearing completion, the 2026 focus will shift to constructing Smart Secondary Schools and a new network of Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Colleges.

He defended the heavy investment, noting:

“What we spend currently on education is insignificant when weighed against the future social cost of out-of-school children.”

The Social Sector as a whole received ₦644.7 billion, representing 40.1% of total allocations. Health will take 10% of the overall budget.

Welfare, Security Receive Fresh Boost

Governor Mbah also earmarked ₦20 billion to settle longstanding gratuities inherited by his administration, insisting workers must no longer wait years for benefits legitimately earned.

Security infrastructure will be strengthened with ₦11 billion for the second phase of the state’s security surveillance system.

The Administration, Justice, and Regional Sectors received ₦128bn, ₦15.8bn, and ₦2bn, respectively.

2025 Budget Performance: “Enugu’s Revenue Has Grown Beyond Expectations”

Reviewing the 2025 fiscal year, Mbah revealed that the state had spent ₦806 billion, achieving 83% performance against the revised ₦871 billion budget, while utilising 97.5% of all funds received.

He announced that Enugu’s IGR was on track to surpass ₦400 billion — the highest in the state’s history and a 221.6% increase over 2024.

The governor also praised President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, which he said boosted FAAC allocations beyond projections.

“We projected ₦150bn but received ₦230bn — more than 50% above expectations. This is the impact of President Tinubu’s bold economic reforms,” he said, noting improved macroeconomic stability, eased interest rates, and strengthened foreign reserves now at $46 billion.

A Budget Poised to Accelerate Enugu’s Transformation

With massive capital investments, bold revenue targets, and historic allocations to education, infrastructure, agriculture, housing, and technology, the 2026 Budget of Renewed Momentum signals a defining phase in Governor Mbah’s modernization drive.

The proposal now awaits legislative consideration by the Enugu State House of Assembly.