Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State on Tuesday presented a ₦757.88 billion budget estimate for 2026 to the state House of Assembly, marking a 24.1% increase from the 2025 budget of ₦607 billion.
The governor said the budget reflects his administration’s focus on execution, with ₦595.3 billion (79%) earmarked for capital expenditure and ₦162.6 billion (21%) for recurrent spending. This represents a year-on-year growth of 26.3% for capital projects and 16.6% for recurrent costs.
Soludo noted that the budget deficit, estimated at ₦225.7 billion (29.8% of the total), could be financed through hybrid means including potential privatization proceeds, higher internally generated revenue, and concessionary borrowing for bankable projects. “Since the start of this administration, we have not borrowed to finance deficits, and we may still avoid borrowing depending on execution in 2026,” he added.
Key sectors are set to see significant increases: Administrative (12.2%), Economic (26.7%), Social (31.4%), Education (46.9%), Health (13%), and Infrastructure (27.7%). Soludo emphasized that at least 70% of the budget will target security, law and order, infrastructure, economic transformation, and human capital development.
On infrastructure, the governor highlighted ongoing road dualization, bridge and flyover projects, mass transit expansion, new jetties, and waterway transport improvements. The government is exploring a Public-Private Partnership for its rail master plan. Plans were also unveiled for three new cities: Awka 2.0, Greater Niger, and Aerotropolis/New Industrial-Commercial City, with the Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City set to begin construction in 2026.
Education remains a top priority, with continued free schooling, construction of new public primary schools in 30 underserved communities, upgrades across existing schools, and establishment of two specialist tertiary institutions. Support for mission schools, especially returned mission schools, will continue.
