The Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday, presented a ₦939.85 billion 2026 Appropriation Bill, tagged the “Budget of Hope and Growth,” to the Edo State House of Assembly.
Naijaonpoint reports that the budget presentation was made at a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku.
While presenting the estimates, Okpebholo commended the Speaker and members of the House for what he described as their cooperation and support, noting that this ensured the successful implementation of the 2025 Budget.
According to him, the outcomes of the 2025 fiscal year translated into tangible benefits for residents of the state.
He said the 2025 Budget recorded strong performance in both capital and recurrent expenditure, adding that Internally Generated Revenue improved significantly due to the blocking of leakages and the strengthening of revenue collection systems.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ebojele Akhere Patrick, said the achievements recorded in Okpebholo’s first year in office informed the priorities of the 2026 fiscal plan.
Speaking on security, the governor said his administration was determined to ensure that Edo State is “no longer a safe haven for criminals.”
He recalled that before his assumption of office, cult killings, kidnapping, robbery and cybercrime were rampant, with over 300 cult-related killings recorded in 2024 alone.
To tackle the situation, he said the government passed a stronger anti-cultism law, supplied 80 Hilux patrol vans and 400 motorcycles to security agencies, and recruited, trained and absorbed 2,500 officers into the Edo State Security Corps.
He said these measures have drastically reduced insecurity across the state.
On health, Okpebholo said his administration is rebuilding what he described as a collapsed system from the ground up.
He listed the construction of new Primary Health Centres across the state, provision of diagnostic equipment, and the ongoing construction of a 150-bed Specialist Hospital in Edo Central as key interventions.
The governor disclosed that his administration awarded 28 new road projects covering 255 kilometres.
These include the construction of two flyovers in Benin City at Ramat Park and Sapele Road by Adesuwa Junction, which he said are the first flyovers in the history of Edo State.
He added that several community roads are also under construction to improve connectivity across the state.
Okpebholo said agriculture received a major boost, with its budget expanded from ₦6.9bn to ₦57bn, following encouragement from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, over 400 hectares of farmland have been cultivated, with harvesting already underway across multiple farm clusters to combat food insecurity.
In the education sector, the governor said his administration recruited 5,000 permanent teachers and upgraded 63 schools to modern standards, with more upgrades ongoing.
He also announced a sharp increase in monthly subventions to tertiary institutions, raising Ambrose Alli University’s allocation from ₦41m to ₦500m, and Edo State University, Iyamoh, from ₦25m to ₦250m.
On economic growth and job creation, Okpebholo said the administration inherited both foreign and local debts but has commenced a gradual process of reducing the debt burden.
He disclosed that over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs have been created, alongside the launch of a ₦1bn interest-free loan scheme for market women and traders.
Speaking on governance and institutional reforms, the governor said public trust had been restored through the swearing-in of three judges who were previously sidelined, the re-establishment of customary courts, and the strengthening of traditional institutions.
Budget Breakdown, Funding Sources
Okpebholo explained that the ₦939.85bn 2026 budget comprises ₦637bn for capital expenditure (68 per cent) and ₦302bn for recurrent expenditure (32 per cent).
According to him, the budget will be funded through projected Internally Generated Revenue of ₦160bn, FAAC allocations of ₦480bn, capital receipts and grants of ₦153bn, Public-Private Partnerships valued at ₦146bn, and other revenue windows.
Sectoral allocations show that the economic sector received ₦614.2bn, the social sector ₦148.9bn, the administration sector ₦157.7bn, and the justice sector ₦19bn. Provisions were also made for regional development and support to local government councils.
SHINE Agenda focus
Okpebholo said the 2026 Budget of Hope and Growth is anchored on his administration’s SHINE Agenda, Security, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources/Agriculture, and Education, and is designed to deliver people-centred development across the state.
Naijaonpoint reports that the plenary session was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa; the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor; former deputy governors; a former SSG; members of the State Executive Council; traditional rulers; civil society groups; and journalists.
The governor thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for reforms that have boosted revenue flows to states and expressed appreciation to the leadership of the Edo State House of Assembly, traditional and religious leaders, political appointees and civil servants.
He thereafter formally presented the ₦939.85 billion 2026 Edo State Appropriation Bill to the House for consideration and approval.