Economy
Soludo Unveils ₦757.8bn Budget for 2026, Prioritising Schools, Healthcare and Infrastructure
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has unveiled a ₦757.8 billion budget for 2026, outlining an ambitious plan to expand schools, modernise healthcare, strengthen security, and accelerate infrastructure development across Anambra State.
The budget represents a 24.1% increase from 2025 and comes at a time when many Nigerian states are struggling with revenue shortages, heavy debt, and escalating development needs.
Soludo says his administration is charting a different course.
Soludo: ‘We invest in tomorrow, not consume today’
Presenting the spending plan — titled Changing Gears 3.0: Solution Continues — to the State House of Assembly, Soludo said his government remains committed to responsible fiscal management, insisting that the state has not borrowed to finance its projects.
“It is no accident that Anambra has been ranked No. 1 in fiscal transparency, and more recently the leading State in fiscal sustainability,” he said.
“We have cut the cost of governance to the bare bones, prioritising value over volume. The unprecedented ratio of 21 percent recurrent to 79 percent capital expenditure speaks volumes. We are investing in tomorrow, not consuming today.”
The governor said funding remains a key challenge but maintained that his administration will “do more with less.”
Education and Healthcare Take Centre Stage
A significant portion of the 2026 budget targets human capital development, with sharp increases in spending across education and health.
Soludo said the government will begin building new public primary schools in 30 communities that have never had one, while continuing aggressive upgrades under ASUBEB.
“We will sustain the aggressive upgrade of infrastructure in our primary and secondary schools… ensuring that learning environments are conducive and equipped,” he said.
His administration has already recruited 3,115 additional teachers, bringing the total to 8,115, and has upgraded 22 secondary schools to smart schools with STEM laboratories.
On healthcare, Soludo said the government will complete a new specialist teaching hospital focused on oncology, finish the College of Nursing, and intensify upgrades to primary and secondary healthcare centres.
He highlighted ongoing initiatives including:
Free antenatal and delivery services for over 161,197 women
594 caesarean surgeries at zero mortality
Commissioning of four new general hospitals
Modernisation of 326 primary healthcare centres
“We are completing investment in the entire healthcare ecosystem,” he said.
Infrastructure Push: Roads, Bridges, Mass Transit and New Cities
Soludo said 70% of the budget is allocated to security, law and order, economic transformation, infrastructure and human capital development, which he described as the “core of Anambra’s long-term development.”
The government plans to:
Continue dualising major roads and building bridges and flyovers
Expand mass transit with more buses, new jetties, and additional boats
Implement a PPP model for the state’s planned railway
Fast-track development of three new cities:
Awka 2.0
Greater Niger City
Aerotropolis / New Industrial Commercial City
Construction of the Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City is expected to begin in 2026.
“Urban planning and regeneration will be accelerated,” Soludo said, adding that improving the ease of doing business is central to attracting investment.
Fiscal Discipline and Revenue Reforms
Soludo said Anambra will soon launch a technology-driven overhaul of its internally generated revenue (IGR) system to block leakages and enforce compliance.
He also emphasised deeper partnerships with:
The Federal Government
International development agencies
Private investors
Local governments and communities
“Together, we are expanding the big tent of collective development,” he said.
“We have set aside counterpart funding to unlock more grants and collaborative projects.”
Industry reactions
Public policy analysts say the heavy capital allocation reflects a shift toward long-term growth, but warn that implementation will be the true test.
A civil society economist told NigeriaUpdates:
“The plans are ambitious. The challenge is execution speed, especially with no borrowing. But if achieved, the transformation will be significant.”
What’s next
The budget will undergo legislative scrutiny before passage.
If approved, the 2026 fiscal year would mark the largest infrastructure and social investment push under the Soludo administration.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has warned that no modern customs, security or revenue operation can succeed without timely and credible intelligence.
He gave the charge on Monday, 5 January 2026, while addressing officers of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) at the opening of a training programme in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
Speaking at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), the CGC described intelligence as the foundation of effective enforcement in a rapidly evolving security and economic environment.
“This programme is the first formal engagement of the Service in 2026, and it is capable of shaping your professional outlook,” Adeniyi told participants.
He urged officers to see the new year as an opportunity to make measurable contributions to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the country at large.
Why it matters
Nigeria faces rising security threats, cross-border crime and revenue leakages, placing increased pressure on customs operations.
Customs intelligence plays a critical role in intercepting smuggled arms, curbing illicit trade and protecting national revenue.
According to Adeniyi, recent military and security successes, both within Nigeria and globally, share a common factor — intelligence-driven planning and execution.
“No successful military or paramilitary operation happens without intelligence,” he said, stressing that officers must move beyond theory to practical application.
Inside the training
The CGC encouraged participants to revisit earlier technical papers presented during the programme.
He said the materials already contain practical guidance required for effective field operations.
The training, according to Customs management, is designed to strengthen officers’ analytical skills and operational judgement.
Commandant: Intelligence shapes institutions
The Commandant of the NCCSC, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG) Dow Gaura, described intelligence as a “quiet but decisive force” in institutional transformation.
He said the ability to gather, analyse and deploy intelligence has become indispensable in responding to modern security and economic challenges.
“The Nigeria Customs Service has consistently invested in intelligence-led training as part of its capacity-building strategy,” Gaura said.
He explained that intelligence supports risk management, revenue protection, disruption of smuggling networks and safeguarding the national economy.
What’s next
Participants were urged to approach the programme with discipline and focus, despite differences in comfort levels.
ACG Gaura said management had provided experienced facilitators, relevant materials and a structured learning environment to ensure results.
The training is expected to influence operational decisions across customs commands in 2026.
Who was there
Senior officers present included:
DCG Tijjani Abe, in charge of Human Resources Development
DCG Sulaiman Chiroma, in charge of TRADOC
ACG Muhammad Shu’aibu, in charge of Headquarters
Ondo State Governor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has signed the ₦524.4bn 2026 Appropriation Bill, tagged the “Budget of Economic Consolidation,” into law.
The signing took place on Monday, 29 December 2025, at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Akure.
More than 57% of the budget is earmarked for capital expenditure, signalling a strong push towards infrastructure development and economic recovery in the state.
The governor described the budget as “far more than a statutory requirement,” calling it “a solemn reaffirmation of our collective commitment to the progress, stability and sustainable development of our beloved Sunshine State.”
Why it matters
With Nigeria grappling with inflation, rising unemployment and pressure on household incomes, state budgets have become critical tools for cushioning economic shocks.
Ondo’s 2026 budget focuses on roads, education, healthcare and agriculture sectors that directly affect livelihoods, food prices and access to essential services.
Analysts say the emphasis on capital spending could stimulate local economies if projects are delivered on time.
How the money will be spent
The ₦524.41bn budget comprises ₦220.83bn (42.11%) for recurrent expenditure and ₦303.58bn (57.89%) for capital projects.
Key allocations include:
Infrastructure development: ₦144bn (27.6%)
Education: ₦64.5bn (12.3%)
Health: ₦59.5bn (11.4%)
Agriculture: ₦29.6bn (5.7%)
Public finance: ₦95bn (18.1%)
Governor Aiyedatiwa said the budget is a strategic response to current national economic realities.
“The 2026 Budget of Economic Consolidation is designed to respond effectively to prevailing national economic realities while positioning Ondo State on a path of self-reliance, resilience and enduring prosperity,” he said.
Focus on food security and skills
The governor said agriculture and food security remain central pillars of the budget.
He highlighted targeted investments in modern farming, support for smallholder farmers and improved access to credit.
Human capital development will also receive attention through school renovations, teacher training and digital skills programmes.
According to the governor, these measures are aimed at equipping young people with employable skills while improving productivity across sectors.
Infrastructure and business growth
Major road, power and water projects are expected to be completed or newly initiated under the 2026 plan.
The governor said improved infrastructure would create an enabling environment for businesses and attract private investment.
He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding internally generated revenue through technology-driven tax systems and blocking revenue leakages.
Revenue and borrowing plans
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Olaolu Akindolire, described the budget as “strategic, realistic and people-focused.”
He said projected revenues include ₦2.38bn from federal and non-federal assistance, ₦7.9bn from internally generated revenue, and ₦6.05bn from grants and aid.
The state also plans to borrow ₦72.92bn from local and foreign sources, including development partner loans tied to intellectual capital development.
Lawmakers react
Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Olamide Oladiji, praised the governor’s leadership.
He said the administration had transformed Akure, giving the state capital a more modern outlook.
The speaker also highlighted recent legislative achievements, including laws regulating community activities, prohibiting kidnapping, registering domestic staff, and establishing agencies for road funding and coastal management.
Call for accountability
Governor Aiyedatiwa charged all ministries, departments and agencies to strictly align their programmes with the budget.
He urged timely and transparent execution of projects, stressing that the budget represents “a covenant between government and the people.”
He also thanked lawmakers, particularly the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation chaired by Hon Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, for what he described as their meticulous and patriotic scrutiny of the budget.
What’s next
Implementation will be closely watched in 2026, as residents expect improved roads, better schools, accessible healthcare and job-creating projects.
Nigeria has taken another step toward expanding trade and investment ties with China, as officials and business leaders met to explore new financing, export and industrial cooperation opportunities.
Nigeria is seeking fresh foreign investment to boost jobs, exports and industrial growth, while China remains one of its largest trading partners and development financiers.
The Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership (NCSP) has hosted a high-level delegation from Newryton International Industrial Development Co. Ltd, a major Chinese investment and industrial development consortium, to deepen economic cooperation between both countries.
The talks focused on expanding bilateral trade, industrial collaboration and development financing, amid Nigeria’s push to diversify its economy and grow non-oil exports.
Building a Nigeria–China trade platform
The Newryton delegation was led by Mr David Chen, Assistant Secretary-General of the China Hainan Investment Council, and followed earlier engagements with the Nigerian Association of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).
They were accompanied to the NCSP meeting by Mr Joe Onyuike, Vice-Chairman of NACCIMA’s Agriculture and Livestock Trade Group, who conveyed the organisation’s support for the engagement.
At the centre of discussions was a proposed Nigeria–China Trade and Investment Platform, including plans for a Promotion Centre in China to support Nigerian exporters, investors and state governments.
The delegation also outlined opportunities in Hainan Province’s Free Trade Port, which offers preferential trade policies that Nigerian businesses could use to expand exports and attract foreign investment.
“The proposed platform could significantly improve Nigerian access to the Chinese market.”
Focus on agriculture, energy and aquaculture
Speaking on behalf of Newryton, Mr Pong said the consortium was exploring collaboration with NCSP to access FOCAC-supported financing for investments in agriculture, energy, mining and solid minerals processing.
He identified aquaculture as a priority sector and pointed to the upcoming Global Aquaculture Conference in Hainan Province, urging Nigerian stakeholders to participate.
The delegation also expressed readiness to strengthen vocational training and employment programmes under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
NCSP response
Welcoming the delegation, Mr Martins Olajide, NCSP’s Head of Internal Operations, spoke on behalf of the Director-General and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to mutually beneficial partnerships.
He said NCSP was particularly interested in the proposed trade platform and highlighted the Nigerian Oil Palm Industrial Park as a potential flagship project.
Export opportunities and zero tariffs
Also speaking, Ms Judy Melifonwu, NCSP’s Head of International Relations, highlighted the opportunities created by China’s zero-tariff policy and the forthcoming NAQS–GACC protocol on Nigerian aquaculture exports.
She said these frameworks could significantly boost Nigeria’s competitiveness in global agricultural markets.
Industry analysts say such agreements could help Nigerian producers overcome long-standing export barriers, especially in processed agricultural goods.
What’s next
Both sides agreed to continue discussions toward a structured cooperation framework covering trade, investment, skills development and industrial growth.
If finalised, the partnership could open new export markets, attract investment and create jobs across key sectors of Nigeria’s economy.
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