Delta State Unveils Ambitious N1.7 Trillion 2026 Budget, Prioritizing Capital Projects and Citizen Support
By Mercy Neme – Asaba, Dec. 18, 2025
The Delta State Government has formally presented its 2026 Appropriation Act, a landmark fiscal plan totaling approximately N1.7 trillion. This budget, signed into law by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, marks a 74% increase over the 2025 budget of N979 billion, signaling a bold shift in the state’s developmental strategy.
The Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sunny Ekedayen, provided a comprehensive breakdown, revealing a spending framework heavily tilted towards long-term investment. The budget allocates N500 billion for Recurrent Expenditure (salaries, overheads) and a substantial N1.229 trillion for Capital Expenditure.
An Unprecedented Focus on Capital Development
The most striking feature of the 2026 budget is its capital focus. Over 70% of the total outlay (N1.165 trillion) is dedicated to capital projects. To put this in perspective, the capital budget alone exceeds the state’s entire 2025 budget. This represents a decisive departure from budgets often weighted towards recurrent spending, aiming to “fast-track development across Delta’s 25 local government areas.”
This capital injection is designed for dual purposes: completing existing projects to avoid wasteful abandonment and initiating new, high-impact projects chosen for their measurable benefits. The commissioner emphasized that development would be spread equitably across urban and rural communities, acknowledging the state’s dispersed population.
Social Welfare: From Ad-hoc Aid to Institutionalized Support
Beyond concrete and steel, the budget earmarks N20 billion for targeted social welfare programmes. This initiative aims to support artisans, small traders, and vulnerable citizens through a mix of cash transfers and material assistance. Crucially, the government is seeking to move beyond a discretionary scheme by forwarding a Social Protection Bill to the House of Assembly. This bill aims to create a permanent legal and institutional framework, ensuring sustainability and transparency for social welfare, regardless of future administrations.
Sectoral Breakdown: Health, Education, and Agriculture
- Healthcare: Plans include major upgrades to tertiary facilities, with the acquisition of advanced diagnostic equipment from Germany for three state-owned hospitals. Parallel efforts will strengthen primary healthcare, expand medical training, recruit more workers, and sustain the state health insurance scheme.
- Education: Remaining a core focus, the budget promises continuous funding for the full spectrum of state-owned institutions—universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, schools of nursing, and primary/secondary schools.
- Agriculture: Positioned as a key pillar for food security and employment, the strategy involves direct investment, private-sector partnerships, and large-scale agribusiness to boost production and minimize post-harvest losses. Delta also aims to leverage the Federal Government’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme.
Grassroots Intervention and Innovative Revenue
A notable allocation is the N100 billion for special interventions at the local government level. This fund is intended to address hyper-local, pressing needs identified through direct grassroots engagement, allowing communities a voice in their immediate development.
On the revenue side, the state reports impressive growth in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which has surged by over 140% since 2023, from N83 billion to over N200 billion, with a 2026 target of N250 billion. Ekedayen attributed this to efficiency reforms, not new taxes. Looking forward, Delta is exploring innovative revenue streams, including participation in the blue carbon market (through mangrove restoration for carbon credits) and other climate finance initiatives via collaborations with international and federal partners.
Conclusion: A Budget of Transformation
Commissioner Ekedayen described Governor Oborevwori as “a result-driven leader focused on long-term impact.” The 2026 budget, with its unprecedented capital bias, structured social welfare, and innovative financing, is framed as the engine for that impact. “As from Jan. 1, 2026, the machinery of government will be fully activated,” Ekedayen stated. “Development efforts will intensify, projects will advance, and communities across the state will experience visible progress.”
The success of this ambitious plan will hinge on rigorous implementation, transparency in project execution, and the tangible benefits delivered to the people of Delta State.
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Edited by Sam Oditah
