By Ayomide Otitoju
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo on Thursday presented the 2026 budget of ₦757,884,487,705 to the Anambra State House of Assembly, marking a 24.1 percent increase from the 2025 budget of ₦606,991,849,118. The budget, titled “Changing Gears 3.0 Solution Continues,” focuses on accelerating development and transforming Anambra into a smart megacity.
Governor Soludo thanked the people for his re-election and highlighted the administration’s fiscal discipline, noting that no borrowing was used to finance previous budget deficits, and there is currently no plan to borrow in 2026, depending on the pace of execution.
He reported year-on-year growth across key sectors in 2025, including the Administrative Sector (12.2%), Economic Sector (26.7%), Social Sector (31.4%), Education (46.9%), Health (13%), and Infrastructure (27.7%), reflecting the government’s focus on human capital, economic growth, critical infrastructure, and citizen welfare.
For 2026, 70 percent of the budget is allocated to priority sectors aligned with the state’s Solution Agenda pillars: Security, Law and Order; Infrastructure and Economic Transformation; and Human Capital Development.
Governor Soludo emphasized continued investment in transport infrastructure, including strategic roads, bridges, flyovers, mass transit systems, jetties, and waterways. The administration plans to implement a public-private partnership (PPP) model for the state’s rail masterplan and advance the development of three new cities: Awka 2.0, Greater Niger, and Aerotropolis/New Industrial-Commercial City.
He also announced that construction of the Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City will commence in 2026, marking the next phase of the state’s industrial transformation. Soludo pledged to accelerate urban planning and regeneration while enhancing the Ease of Doing Business, ensuring Anambra remains a prime destination for local and foreign investors.
