Capital projects take 68% as Okpebholo unveils 2026 budget

By Jethro Ibileke

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has presented a proposed ₦939.85 billion budget for the 2026 appropriation year.

Tagged the Budget of Hope and Growth, the 2026 Appropriation Bill comprises ₦637 billion for capital expenditure (68 per cent) and ₦302 billion for recurrent expenditure (32 per cent).

The governor explained that the budget is so named because it aims to consolidate the gains recorded in his first year in office, expand development efforts, and restore the confidence of Edo people in governance.

“The 2026 Budget of Hope and Growth is designed to build on the foundation we laid in 2025. It is a budget that speaks to the needs of our people. It focuses on security, infrastructure, agriculture, education, job creation and healthcare.

“Edo State will continue to prioritise capital projects such as roads, schools, hospitals, water supply, housing and economic ventures. Our people want real development they can see and feel,” he said.

Okpebholo stated that the budget would be funded through Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of ₦160 billion, federal allocations of ₦480 billion, capital receipts and grants of ₦153 billion, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) of ₦146 billion, as well as other revenue sources available to the state.

He, however, assured that his administration would not impose unnecessary financial pressure on citizens, but would instead strengthen systems and block revenue leakages.

A breakdown of the budget estimates shows that the economic sector carries the lion’s share, with an allocation of ₦614.2 billion, covering agriculture, roads, transport, urban development and energy.

The budget also allocates ₦157.7 billion to the administrative sector, ₦148.9 billion to the social sector, and ₦19 billion to the justice sector.

“The 2026 Budget of Hope and Growth is anchored on our SHINE Agenda, which has five pillars: Security, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources/Agriculture, and Education.

“The vision of the 2026 Budget of Hope and Growth is simple: to create prosperity and a united Edo State where every citizen has hope and every community feels the impact of governance,” the governor concluded.