Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, presented a budget estimate of N1.39 trillion for the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly during a plenary session held at the Assembly Complex on Udo Udoma Avenue in Uyo. The budget is titled The People’s Budget of Expansion and Growth and is designed to focus on key areas of the ARISE Agenda that the administration has been implementing across the state.
Governor Eno explained that the 2026 appropriation is structured to address several fundamental needs in the state. He said the budget will strengthen food security and sufficiency, improve living conditions in rural communities, complete ongoing flagship infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, aviation development and health facilities, and also begin new projects that will support connectivity, trade, investment and job creation. According to him, these priorities are essential to boosting long-term economic growth and improving the everyday life of citizens.
The Governor further stated that the fiscal plan aims to strengthen internal security architecture, enhance the quality, accessibility and relevance of education at all levels, and promote economic diversification with strong support for MSMEs. He added that the state will continue to invest in human capital development and social inclusion. Governor Eno also revealed that part of the budget focuses on renewable energy and waste-to-wealth initiatives. These projects, he noted, are intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create green jobs and support environmental sustainability.
Giving a breakdown of the estimates, Governor Eno said the proposed expenditure for 2026 consists of N354.867 billion for recurrent spending, representing 25 percent of the total budget, while N1.035 trillion is allocated for capital expenditure, which makes up 75 percent. He explained that the high capital expenditure ratio is deliberate and is meant to accelerate economic activities in the state. He pointed out that the capital component includes N387.5 billion for roads and other infrastructure, N31.6 billion for education, and N136.1 billion for health, among other sectors.
The Governor acknowledged that the 2026 budget reflects a 16 percent decrease compared to the approved revised budget of N1.65 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year. He clarified that the state had initially approved N955 billion for the 2025 fiscal year before it was revised upward to N1.65 trillion, with N425.666 billion allocated to recurrent expenditure and N1.224 trillion to capital projects.
Providing an update on the 2025 financial performance, Governor Eno said that as of September 2025, the state had collected N897.144 billion in recurrent revenue, representing 108 percent of the approved provision for January to September. He added that N3.883 billion was generated from other capital receipts excluding recurrent surplus, which represents 15.5 percent of the approved projection for the period. According to him, N231.228 billion was spent on recurrent services within the same period, amounting to 77.1 percent of the approved provision, while N598.981 billion was spent on capital programs, representing 91.4 percent of the approved allocation.
Governor Eno expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as a bold decision to remove petroleum subsidy. He said the policy has increased the funds available to states, making it possible for Akwa Ibom to execute both recurrent and capital projects without borrowing.
According to him, “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.” He added, “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.”
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Udeme Otong, commended Governor Eno for what he described as visionary leadership. He said the ARISE Agenda has moved beyond policy statements to actual results by touching communities, empowering households and strengthening the state’s economic foundation. Otong stated that one of the most commendable aspects of the Governor’s leadership is his commitment to bringing government closer to the grassroots.
He added that in reviewing the 2026 budget, the House is particularly interested in how the fiscal plan will reinforce priority areas of the ARISE Agenda, especially in sectors such as education, healthcare, tourism, creative industries and other areas that can help the state reduce its dependence on federal allocation.
