Linus Oota writes that Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, designed his 2026 budget to sustain the momentum of his administration’s reforms.
On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, Nasarawa State Governor, Engr Abdullahi Sule, presented the 2026 appropriation bill to the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.
During the presentation, the governor expressed the desire of his administration to sustain the industrialization policy he promised the people of the state in 2019 and the drive is underpinned by both the size of the budget and sectoral allocations that indicate where emphasis lies.
During the six years, six months old administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule, the dream of making Nasarawa State a harbour for investment was 90 percent realized.
The 2026 budget of Strategic Consolidation has a total size of Five Hundred and Seventeen Billion, Fifty Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ten Naira and Seventy-Seven Kobo (N517,539,050,910.77) only.
According to Governor Sule “The 2026 Budget therefore, represents a strategic consolidation of our achievements over the years and a deliberate effort to chart a sustainable path for accelerated development.
“The Budget is aimed at achieving the developmental aspiration of our administration viz-a-viz the policy direction of the APC government under the leadership of our amiable President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR),” he said.
Looking at the budget and the aspirations of Governor Abdullahi Sule, the budget is no doubt audacious in outlook. The proposed budget evidently captured the dreams of the governor to manage effectively the resources of the state to make a positive impact on the people of Nasarawa State.
The 2025 budget which was presented in November 2024 deepens the governor’s efforts in tackling security challenges headlong and ensuring profitable Agricultural yields.
Speaking on the gains of the 2025 budget in the area of Security and Agriculture, Governor Abdullahi Sule told the lawmakers that the attraction of investments into the state was directly linked to peace and harmonious co-existence of the populace.
“On agriculture, you are aware that Nasarawa is an agrarian State with good climatic conditions and soil texture. This is why we have continued to take advantage of this opportunity to prioritize and focus on boosting our agricultural production for food value-chain addition.
“We also committed to ensure full exploitation of our potential in the agricultural sector. In this connection, the government has sustained the distribution of farm inputs to our farmers in order to support agricultural development in the State.
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“I am happy to inform you that in our commitment to ensure food security for the State, Government expanded cultivation to 3,300 hectares of farm out of the 10,000 hectares of land acquired in Jangwa and Agwatashi of Awe and Obi Local Government Areas respectively. As I speak, harvest has begun and we are expecting 8 tons per hectare to be harvested at the end of the season.
“This administration has also procured and distributed tractors and other agriculture machinery, as well as farm inputs to our farmers in our determination to enhance mechanized agriculture and its sustainability,” the governor added.
The 2026 budget, notable for its substantial increase from previous years, indicates the state’s ambitions to accelerate development and improve residents’ quality of life. Significant allocations go to key sectors such as education, health, infrastructure, and agriculture/industry, security which are crucial for stimulating economic growth, creating job opportunities, and ensuring the populace’s overall well-being.
Investments in infrastructure, including roads and healthcare, are expected to enhance connectivity and access to essential services. Specifically, infrastructure received 157.80 billion representing 30.49% , Education got 92.91 billion representing 7.95%, the Health Sector was allocated 37.19 billion representing 7.19% while the Agricultural sector was given 31.85 billion representing 6.15% .
The budget which overwhelmingly prioritizes infrastructure, reflected the Governor’s focus on delivering critical projects he has consistently proclaimed. Tagged, the ‘Budget of Strategic Consolidation,’ the document aimed at accelerating ongoing projects and launching new ones.
Recall that, in the midst of strident calls by admirers from across his Nasarawa North zone for him to declare interest to run for the Senate, Governor Sule has consistently called on the people not to distract him but to allow him to focus on delivering critical infrastructure for the sustainable growth and development of the state.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the 2026 financial plan allocates N157.8 billion to infrastructure—30.49% of the total budget and the largest share of any sector. This substantial investment highlights the administration’s conviction that robust physical infrastructure is vital for unlocking economic potential and improving citizens’ quality of life.
Most significantly, the budget is strategically tilted toward capital projects, with 58.88% (N304.75 billion) earmarked for capital expenditure to ensure resources are directed toward tangible development.
This infrastructure focus builds on progress made over the past six years, during which the Sule administration has constructed about 639 kilometers of road networks, with recent initiatives to include new rural road projects in Akwanga, Nassarawa-Eggon, and Wamba Local Government Areas, such as the 17km Buku/Kambre/Numa Gona/Bayan Dutse link and the 21.5km Alizaga Hill Umme to Arugbadu road.
These projects are designed to open up and connect rural communities, fostering inclusive socio-economic growth by linking agricultural areas to markets.
The infrastructure drive is also not only limited to rural communities but extends to urban centers. Residents of Lafia, Keffi, and Akwanga are witnessing transformative projects like the recently commissioned Lafia Ahmed Bola Tinubu interchange and ongoing construction of flyovers and underpasses. These initiatives are expected to improve traffic flow, reduce travel time, facilitate the movement of goods, and stimulate commerce.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the 2026 budget is a multi-faceted development tool. The economic sector received the second-largest allocation of N221.84 billion to support job creation through industrialization, small and medium enterprise (SME) support, and agricultural productivity.
This policy thrust is in line with a recent major achievement: the groundbreaking of a $400 million rare earth and critical metals processing plant by Hasetins Commodities Limited in Uke, Karu Local Government Area.
Touted as a game changer and set to be the largest of its kind in Africa, the plant will process elements essential for electric vehicles, medical equipment, and advanced manufacturing. During the groundbreaking, Governor Sule commended the project as a historic milestone that will position Nasarawa as a high-technology production hub and create numerous jobs for the state’s youth.
The social sector is another key beneficiary, with an allocation of N170.92 billion. This includes N92.91 billion for education and N37.19 billion for health. These resources are intended to enhance the quality and accessibility of essential services, building on previous efforts such as recruiting teachers and healthcare staff, upgrading primary healthcare centers to general hospitals, and expanding health insurance coverage for the poor and vulnerable.
To ensure sustainable human capital development beyond its tenure, the administration has also established six strategic new agencies in key sectors to drive modernization, institutional strengthening, economic growth, public safety, and regulatory framework.
“These agencies include: Nasarawa State Fire and Rescue Service Agency, Nasarawa State Education Trust Fund (NASETFund), Institute of Leather and Science Technology, DOMA, Nasarawa State Multi-Door Court House (NSMDC) and in response to the expanding electricity market following the decentralization of power regulation in Nigeria.
“We have also established Nasarawa State Electricity Regulatory Commission to oversee the generation, transmission, distribution, and marketing of electricity within the State.
“This new regulatory framework is expected to improve power supply reliability, encourage private sector participation, and support industrial growth across the State. We have also domesticated the made in Nigeria Project Office in Nasarawa State. This is in our commitment to promoting local content in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government
“I wish to state that these newly established Agencies Mark a significant shift towards strategic reforms, empowering citizens, driving economic growth, enhancing security, and strengthening institutions. I invite partners, stakeholders, investors, and the public to join us in supporting these Agencies as they drive transformative changes and improve service delivery across Nasarawa State” Sule had said
The 2026 budget will be funded partly through the government’s expected revenue of an estimated total recurrent revenue of N302,521,043,791.16 only from FAAC and IGR, and capital receipts which includes aid, grants, and capital development funds, which form part of deficit financing of N151, 435,982,663.34 only.
According to Governor Sule “the total expenditure budget for fiscal year 2026 is structured into N212,789,330,249.07 only, and this represents 41.12% recurrent expenditure and a total capital expenditure of N304,749,720,661.70 representing 58.88%. the ratio of the recurrent to capital spending shows another improvement in our commitment to investing in capital spending” he said
Speaking on the milestones achieved in the 2025 budget despite the challenges of an unstable economic environment, including inflationary pressures, fluctuating exchange rates and national uncertainties, Governor Abdullahi Sule told the state lawmakers that.
“I need to State that at the end of October 2025, Nasarawa State had generated a total revenue of N235.048 billion including opening balance which represents 61.16% of the total projected revenue for the fiscal year.
This includes N127.20 billion from the Federation Account Committee (FAAC) and N27.31 billion from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Additionally, we received N26.51 billion as capital receipts from aid, grants, and capital development funds, which from part of deficit financing.
“The total expenditure for the 2025 budget as at October 31st, 2025, stood at N226.36 billion, representing 58.90% of the approved expenditure for the year. Of this, N106.11 billion was spent on recurrent costs, with priority given to the regular payment of staff salaries, gratuities/pension, debt servicing and other running costs.
“The capital expenditure for the period was N120.25 billion, representing 53.75%, this is the highest capex performance in a fiscal year since the creation of the State. Our revenue collection and public expenditure management reforms are yielding results , with notable improvements in independent revenue (Internally Generated Revenue) performance. However, to sustain this momentum, we must make efforts to identify and tap into new revenue sources to reduce over reliance on external sources,” Governor Sule added
Our correspondent gathered that the 2026 Budget seeks to consolidate ongoing infrastructure projects to enhance connectivity and economic competitiveness, expand job creation through industrialization, SME support, and agricultural productivity, and improve the quality and accessibility of basic healthcare and education services.
Others include Intensify urban renewal efforts and strengthen environmental management, deepen the digital transformation of government operations for improved service delivery, enhance social protection mechanisms for the poor and vulnerable, sustain investments in security to safeguard lives, property, and economic activities, deepening fiscal sustainability and efficiency.
The budget equally seems to accelerate infrastructure delivery, strengthening human capital development especially in education, health, and other critical sub-sectors, as well as expanding the revenue base through improved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) systems.
These priorities and policy thrust reflect Governor Sule’s commitment to building a resilient, competitive, and inclusive State and the goal is to consolidate prior achievements and accelerate ongoing reforms.
Indeed, as the 2026 appropriation bill undergoes legislative review, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Danladi Jatau, has promised the Governor a diligent and speedy passage, acknowledging the budget’s clear commitment to the progress of the state.
For the people of Nasarawa State, the coming year promises intensified activity, marked by construction, new economic opportunities, and the practical delivery of the critical infrastructure Governor Sule has been championing.
And if the last six full budgets (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025) budgets of the Abdullahi Sule led administration are signposts to his credibility and competence, the 7th full budget will definitely be an appraisal of the administration’s performance.
Sule has often reiterated his administration’s commitment to a partnership and inclusive governance to ensure that there is focused and qualitative governance and to create the enabling environment for a public private sector partnership which is fundamental to the creation of an enduring economic development and individual prosperity of the people of Nasarawa State.
