Enugu — The Enugu State Government has presented a proposed ₦1.62 trillion budget for the 2026 fiscal year to the House of Assembly, marking a 66.5 per cent increase from the 2025 budget as the state positions for accelerated development and economic expansion.
Presenting the estimates to lawmakers, the government said the 2026 Appropriation Bill was designed to consolidate ongoing reforms, scale up infrastructure delivery, and drive broad-based growth across the state.
According to the proposal, the state expects to generate ₦870 billion from internally generated revenue, ₦387 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), and ₦329 billion from capital receipts. Officials said the revenue projections are based on improved collection systems, expanding economic activity, and ongoing public sector reforms.
In a move underscoring its development agenda, the government earmarked 80 per cent of the total budget for capital projects, leaving 20 per cent for recurrent expenditure. The administration said the allocation would fund major investments in roads, healthcare facilities, schools, water projects, transportation systems, digital infrastructure, and other productive assets.
Education will account for over 30 per cent of total spending for the second year in a row, reflecting what officials described as a deliberate push to strengthen human capital. Plans for 2026 include the construction of Smart Secondary Schools and the expansion of technical and vocational institutions, building on the existing Smart Schools programme across all wards in the state.
The health sector has been allocated 10 per cent of the budget to support the completion and equipping of 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres, the upgrade of 51 secondary health facilities, the completion of the 300-bed Enugu International Hospital, and ongoing renovation work at Parklane Teaching Hospital.
Infrastructure and transportation feature prominently in the budget, with funding proposed for the construction and rehabilitation of urban and rural road networks, new transport terminals, expansion of the state’s taxi fleet, and increased capacity for Enugu Air as a regional carrier.
Agriculture is also set to receive a boost, with the government confirming that all 260 farm estates nearing completion will be equipped for mechanised farming and agro-processing, including the installation of irrigation systems, warehouses, tractor sheds, and energy supply. The programme is expected to increase food production, support rural communities, and generate employment.
The tourism sector will benefit from plans to upgrade natural attractions in Awhum, Okpatu, Nsude, Ngwo, and Akwuke into major tourism destinations capable of attracting up to three million visitors annually.
In the housing sector, more than 15 per cent of the budget has been allocated for housing development, with the government targeting the construction of 15,000 mass housing units in 2026 as part of a longer-term plan to deliver 30,000 units. Infrastructure work on the New Enugu Smart City is also expected to be completed next year, with the project projected to generate over ₦300 billion in revenue when fully operational.
Security remains a priority area, with additional resources proposed for surveillance systems, wider coverage across local government areas, and the expansion of intelligence capabilities aimed at maintaining Enugu’s reputation as one of the safest states in Nigeria.
Lawmakers are expected to begin deliberations on the budget in the coming weeks.
