The Delta government has rolled out plans for its 2026 Appropriation Act, with a total expenditure plan of about N1.7 trillion.

The budget allocated N500 billion to recurrent expenditure and N1.229 trillion to capital expenditure.

The commissioner for economic planning, Sunny Ekedayen, gave a breakdown of the budget at a news briefing in Asaba on Wednesday.

Mr Ekedayen said that the spending framework, recently approved by the House of Assembly and assented to by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, represented a significant increase over the 2025 budget of N979 billion.

According to him, the initial proposal of N1.664 trillion submitted to the House underwent scrutiny and adjustments, resulting in a final figure that better reflects the government’s developmental priorities.

He confirmed that the budget would take effect on January 1, 2026. A major highlight of the 2026 fiscal plan is the emphasis on capital expenditure.

Mr Ekedayen disclosed that more than N1.165 trillion, over 70 per cent of the total budget outlay, was earmarked for capital projects, a departure from previous spending patterns.

He described the allocation as unprecedented, saying that the capital component alone exceeded the entire 2025 budget.

He said the shift was designed to fast-track development across Delta’s 25 local government areas by improving infrastructure and public facilities.

The commissioner said that the existing projects would be completed, while new ones would be carefully selected to deliver measurable benefits.

He also said that social welfare would feature prominently in 2026, with about N20 billion set aside for programmes targeting artisans, small traders, and vulnerable citizens, among others.

He said that the support would be delivered through a mix of cash transfers and material assistance.

Mr Ekedayen said that to sustain the initiative, a Social Protection Bill had been forwarded to the House to provide a legal and institutional framework for its operation.

He restated that infrastructure development would be spread across both urban and rural communities, reflecting the state’s dispersed settlement structure.

He also announced that N100 billion was budgeted for special interventions at the local government level to address pressing community needs identified through grassroots engagement.

In the health sector, the commissioner revealed plans for major upgrades to tertiary healthcare facilities, including the acquisition of advanced diagnostic equipment from Germany for the three state-owned hospitals.

He also spoke of ongoing efforts to strengthen primary healthcare, expand medical training programmes, recruit more health workers and sustain the state’s health insurance scheme.

Mr Ekedayen said that education remained a core focus of the present administration.

He gave assurance that there would be continuous funding for state universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, schools of nursing and health technology, as well as numerous public primary and secondary schools.

He described agriculture as another key pillar of the 2026 budget, with plans anchored on direct government investment, partnerships with the private sector and large-scale agribusiness ventures.

Mr Ekedayen said the measures would help to boost food production, create employment opportunities and minimise post-harvest losses.

He said that Delta was well placed to benefit from the second phase of the federal government’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme.

On the revenue side, Mr Ekedayen reported a sharp rise in internally generated revenue, which grew by more than 140 per cent since 2023 – from N83 billion to over N200 billion.

He said that the target for 2026 was at least N250 billion and attributed the increase to improved efficiency and reforms rather than additional tax pressure on the people.

He disclosed that the state was exploring new revenue streams, including participation in the blue carbon market through mangrove restoration and climate finance initiatives, as well as collaboration with international partners and the federal government.

The commissioner described Mr Oborevwori as a result-driven leader focused on long-term impact.

He assured Delta residents that the benefits of governance would be felt across all the communities.

“As of January 1, 2026, the machinery of government will be fully activated. Development efforts will intensify, projects will advance, and communities across the state will experience visible progress,” Mr Ekedayen said.

(NAN)