Doreen Nkamnebe
Awka
Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has presented the Enugu State 2026 draft Estimates of N1.62 for the state’s expenditure to the State House of Assembly.
According to him, the budget was designed to consolidate ongoing gains, accelerate growth, and deliver development at full scale across the state.
Representing a 66.5 percent increase over the 2025 fiscal year, the 2026 estimates allocated 80 percent of total expenditure to capital projects, with 20 percent earmarked for recurrent spending.
The governor said the allocation underscores his commitment to development-focused governance, ensuring that investments continue to target roads, schools, hospitals, water infrastructure, transport systems, digital platforms, and other productive assets.
According to the governor, the state expects to generate ₦870 billion in internally generated revenue, ₦387 billion from FAAC, and ₦329 billion in capital receipts. He noted that these projections are grounded in real revenue performance and supported by new economic engines activated through recent reforms.
The education sector again received the largest share of the budget, taking more than 30 percent for the second consecutive year. The governor said the funds would support the expansion of the Smart Schools initiative, the rollout of Smart Secondary Schools, and the strengthening of technical and vocational institutions to prepare young people for an innovation-driven future.
The health sector is allocated 10 percent of the budget, which will fund the completion of 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres, the upgrade of 51 secondary health facilities, the 300-bed Enugu International Hospital, and ongoing reforms at Parklane. Mbah reiterated that the administration’s goal is to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare across the state.
Infrastructure and transportation are also set for major expansion in 2026. The budget provides for extensive urban and rural road construction and rehabilitation, new transport terminals, an expanded taxi fleet, and increased capacity for Enugu Air as a regional connector. The governor said these investments are aimed at improving mobility, opening markets, and supporting commerce.
“Agriculture will receive significant attention, with all 260 Farm Estates nearing completion and scheduled to be equipped with warehouses, irrigation systems, tractor sheds, and dedicated energy sources to support mechanised farming and agro-processing. According to the governor, the initiative is expected to boost food production, strengthen rural economies, and create thousands of jobs.
“The tourism sector is positioned for growth through ongoing upgrades at Awhum, Okpatu, Nsude, Ngwo, and Akwuke, transforming them into world-class attractions capable of drawing up to three million visitors annually. The housing sector, which received more than 15 percent of the budget, will support the delivery of 15,000 mass housing units next year as part of the administration’s 30,000-unit plan. The New Enugu Smart City is expected to come fully onstream after its infrastructure is completed in 2026, with a projected economic impact of over ₦300 billion,” he said.
On security, Mbah announced expanded investments in surveillance and intelligence systems to strengthen coverage across more local government areas, emphasizing that security remains the foundation of the state’s development agenda.
Mbah thanked the House of Assembly for its continued partnership and expressed gratitude to Ndi Enugu for their trust and support. He described the 2026 budget as a confident step toward building a modern, productive, self-sustaining state.
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