Why We Increased Okpebholo’s Budget From ₦605 Billion To ₦676 Billion – Edo Assembly

The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku has disclosed that the lawmakers increased the state’s 2025 budget from ₦605 billion to ₦676 billion to enable the government address food insecurity.

Naijaonpoint recalls that the state governor, Monday Okpebholo on December 10, 2024, presented a budget proposal of ₦605 billion to the House for consideration and approval.

The House however raised the budget to ₦676 billion, an increase of over ₦71 billion.

Speaking in Benin City, Agbebaku explained that the additional sum was to adequately combat food insecurity and create food sufficiency in Edo State as against the sum of ₦4.5 billion initially allocated to the sector by the governor.

He said, “Your Excellency, we present to you the final approved budget that will scale you through this new year. The budget will ensure infrastructure in all the constituencies in Edo State.

“The country is currently experiencing an acute shortfall in food production, a situation that has seen an astronomical rise in the prices of food production, and increased hardship among Nigerians.

“The Legislative Arm is committed to partnering with the Governor in ensuring that Edo takes the lead in agricultural revolution and solving the current food challenges plaguing the country.

“We looked at the budget carefully, digested the content, and decided, going by the current food insecurity in the country, to fund the agricultural sector to create food sufficiency in Edo State.

“So, the House agreed that the fund going to that sector be increased, and it was given a significant increase to ensure we achieve food sufficiency in Edo State.”

In his remarks, the governor said the allocation of ₦70billion to the agricultural sector by the lawmakers was in line with his administration’s commitment to addressing food insecurity and making Edo sufficient in food production.

Okpebholo opined that the budget was meant to revive the economy of Edo State and deliver the dividends of democracy, with a special focus on agricultural revolution, food production, and infrastructural development.