The Jigawa government has raised its 2026 budget to N948.2 billion and approved N9.9 billion for agricultural mechanisation and healthcare projects and supplies.

According to a statement by Sagir Musa, the information commissioner, on Tuesday, the increase followed Governor Umar Namadi’s assent to the amended 2026 Appropriation Law, with a supplementary allocation of approximately N46.4 billion.

”The additional provision will fund priority projects and programmes with strict fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability,” he said.

Mr Musa said the supplementary provision also includes approximately N17.11 billion for the 27 local councils.

Mr Musa said the State Executive Council approved approximately N7.5 billion for outstanding payments on agricultural mechanisation equipment and establishment of an Agricultural Hub under the Renewed Hope National Agricultural Mechanisation Programme (RH-NAMP).

The commissioner explained that the approval also covered 100 units of 81-horsepower four-wheel-drive tractors, 100 disc harrows, 100 disc ploughs, 100 disc ridders, 100 tractor trailers and 100 trackers. He added that the agricultural hub would provide services covering mechanised farming, agricultural inputs, farmer training, equipment maintenance, produce aggregation and post-harvest activities.

”The hub will support the housing, servicing and maintenance of tractors and equipment,” he said.

He added that the facility would also support the storage and distribution of agricultural inputs and irrigation equipment, as well as training for farmers, tractor operators, agricultural service providers and other stakeholders.

”The hub will also include an aggregation warehouse and collection and sorting area to support produce handling, storage, post-harvest management and market access,” he stated.

The commissioner said the council approved contracts totalling approximately N550.8 million for the full-scale revitalisation and upgrade of Samamiya Primary Health Centre in Birnin Kudu council area. He said the council also approved the procurement of 2,155 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for immediate distribution to Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) centres across the 27 LGAs.

Mr Musa also said N916.222 million was approved for the supply of essential drugs, procurement of 15,455 Mama Kits for expectant mothers, furnishing of 48 primary healthcare midwifery quarters, and 35 laptop computers. He said the computers would support primary healthcare digitalisation, health data reporting and record-keeping across administrative health centres.

(NAN)