Abia Budgets N1.016 Trillion, Focus Education, Health, Roads in 2026

Umuahia, Abia State – Governor Alex Otti on Tuesday presented a N1.016 trillion Appropriation Bill for the 2026 fiscal year to the Abia State House of Assembly, describing it as the “Budget of Acceleration and New Possibilities.” The proposed budget represents a 13 per cent increase over the 2025 appropriation of N750.28 billion and is aimed at fast-tracking infrastructure expansion, enhancing social services, and deepening ongoing reforms across the state. Of the total outlay, N811.8 billion, or 80 per cent, is earmarked for capital projects, while recurrent expenditure accounts for N204.4 billion, representing 20 per cent of the budget. Compared with 2025, the capital vote increased by 32 per cent, and recurrent expenditure rose by 33 per cent to support daily operations and new personnel. Governor Otti highlighted allocations for key sectors, with education receiving N203.2 billion, including N150.4 billion for salaries of at least 15,000 teachers and new school infrastructure. Plans include constructing 17 model primary and secondary schools, three technical colleges, staff quarters, and over 100 ICT laboratories. Tertiary institutions will receive N52.8 billion for staff salaries and new facilities. The health sector is set to receive N149.7 billion, representing 15 per cent of the budget, for the acquisition of new equipment at Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, 23 other facilities, and the renovation of seven general hospitals. Road construction and rehabilitation will take N169.3 billion, or 16.7 per cent of the budget, with priority given to the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene, Ahiaeke-Okwuta-Bende, and Umuahia-Umueze-Agwu roads. The transport sector is allocated N11.1 billion, including N6 billion to fund 80 additional electric buses, complete transport terminals, and build bus shelters. Other allocations include over N229 billion for agriculture, entrepreneurship, youth development, sports, ICT, women’s empowerment, housing, environment, and urban renewal. Governor Otti projected the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) to reach N223.4 billion in 2026, up from a target of about N100 billion in 2025. Recurrent expenses will be fully funded from IGR. Federal allocations are projected at N83.2 billion from FAAC, N67.1 billion from VAT, N26.5 billion from grants, and N168 billion from other federal sources, bringing total revenue to N607.2 billion. The governor indicated a budget deficit of N409 billion, or 40 per cent of the budget, which will be financed through concessionary loans strictly for capital projects. He stressed that loans would not be used to fund recurrent expenditure. Governor Otti urged the House to consider and pass the budget, emphasizing its importance in sustaining the state’s development trajectory. Responding, Speaker Emmanuel Emeruwa noted that the state had inherited a deep fiscal hole in 2023 but praised the administration for restoring stability. He said the 2026 budget reflects growing responsibilities and expanding development needs and commended the governor for prudent fiscal management. Emeruwa assured the governor that the House would thoroughly review the estimates and support initiatives that benefit the state.

Lagos Govt Announces Traffic Diversion On Adekunle Ramp For Construction Works

The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation has declared a temporary closure of the Adekunle Ramp, both inward and outward, effective from Sunday, 19th November to 8th December 2023. This closure aims to facilitate ongoing construction works with a projected completion period of five weeks. In a press release signed by Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, alternative routes have been outlined to ease traffic flow during this period. The routes are: Lagos Island to Ebute Meta: Motorists are advised to utilize Ilubirin to connect Carter Bridge (Idumota Bridge), subsequently linking Iddo and accessing the Otto/Oyingbo axis. From there, they can proceed along Herbert Macaulay Way to reach their intended destinations; Concerning Victoria Island Traffic Diversion, commuters were asked to navigate through Bonny Camp to Onikan Marina Bridge, then proceed through Apongbon to access Eko Bridge. Continuing via Costain through Apapa Road and Railway Compound to Alagomeji, they can use Glover Road to reach Apena Junction, eventually accessing Herbert Macaulay Way to continue their journey. If one is traveling from Lagos-Ibadan through Adekunle to Ebute-Meta: they are advised to utilize the Ikorodu Road via Ojota, Anthony, Onipanu, and Fadeyi. From Fadeyi, they can proceed through Jibowu to access Herbert Macaulay Way for onward movement. Similarly, motorists from Gbagada are encouraged to pass through Anthony Interchange to link Ikorodu Road towards Jibowu. From Jibowu, they can access Herbert Macaulay Way to connect to their intended destinations. For those traveling from Apapa-Oshodi Expressway to Ebute-Meta, they were recommended to take the Oshodi Bridge to Town Planning Way. From there, they can access Ikorodu Road to reach their respective destinations. The press release emphasized the presence of traffic and security personnel deployed to manage the construction zones and alternative routes. Motorists were also urged to cooperate with officials, exercise patience, and observe safety measures during the ongoing construction works. According to the statement, the closure applies solely to the Adekunle Ramp, with the entirety of the 3rd Mainland Bridge remaining accessible to motorists during this period. See the full statement below: LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION PRESS RELEASE DIVERSION OF TRAFFIC ON ADEKUNLE RAMP, INWARD AND OUTWARD Following the level of the construction works ongoing on Adekunle Ramp and in order to complete it in record time of Five Weeks, the entire traffic inward and outward of the ramp will close to traffic from Sunday, 19th November till 8th December, 2023, (the completion period of 5 weeks earmarked for the project). Consequently, alternative routes presently in use still subsist as follows; 1. Motorists from Lagos Island heading to Ebute Meta will make use of Ilubirin to connect Carter Bridge (Idumota Bridge) to link Iddo inwards Otto/Oyingbo axis and access Herbert Macaulay Way to link their desired destinations. 2. Motorists from Victoria Island are to go through Bonny Camp to Onikan Marina Bridge, Apongbon to link Eko Bridge, Costain via Apapa Road, Railway Compound to link Alagomeji, Glover Road to access Apena Junction, Herbert Macaulay Way to connect their desired destinations. 3. In the same vein, Motorists wishing to travel through Adekunle to Ebute- Meta from Lagos- Ibadan are advised to make use of Ikorodu Road (Ojota, Anthony, Onipanu, Fadeyi) and Jibowu to access Herbert Macaulay Way to continue their journeys. 4. Motorists from Gbagada can go through Anthony Interchange to link Ikorodu Road inwards Jibowu to access Herbert Macaulay Way and link their desired destinations. 5. Motorists from Apapa-Oshodi Expressway wishing to link Ebute-Meta are advised to link Oshodi Bridge to Town Planning Way to Ikorodu Road to access their various destinations Adequate traffic and security personnel are still on ground at the construction zones and the various alternative routes/critical points, Motorists are encouraged to cooperate with them, exercise patience and observe safety measures during the palliative works. It should be noted that the entire stretch of 3rd Mainland Bridge inward and outward is still open to Motorists during this period as only the Adekunle ramp is affected. E-signed; Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation. 16th November, 2023.

FCT To Construct 30km Roads In 6 Area Councils –Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says a total of 30-kilometre roads will be constructed across the six Area Councils of the FCT. Wike, who stated this when Sen. Philip Aduda and Mr Zakari Dobi visited him in his office in Abuja on Wednesday. Aduda was the immediate past Senator that represented FCT in the Senate in the 9th Assembly under the Peoples Democratic Party. He recontested the seat along with Dobi, who contested under the All Progressives Congress but lost to Senator Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party. The minister said that the 30-kilometre roads, five in each of the six area councils, would be concluded before May 29, 2024. This, according to him, is to decentralise development efforts from the city centre to rural communities across the area councils. “President Bola Tinubu had directed that at least five-kilometre roads must be constructed in each of the six area councils before May 29. “This is part of his renewed hope agenda to ensure that people in rural communities were not left out in the development efforts of the current administration,” he said. Wike commended the visitors for working as a team irrespective of political party differences to work for the development of the FCT. He promised to routinely consult them to tribute their quota in developing the city, adding that the FCT Administration would work with everybody that has something to offer. The minister explained that the establishment of the Civil Service Commission for FCT was part of the renewed hope agenda by removing every bottle next to carrier progression. He added that FCT was equally pulled out of Treasury Single Account (TSA) to encourage development in the capital city. “The goal is to rebuild the lost hope among residents of the FCT,” Wike said. Earlier, Aduda explained that the visit was to congratulate Wike on his appointment as Minister of the FCT and commend him for the good work he was doing. He added that the visit was also to thank Tinubu for appointing a son of the soil as a Minister and pledged their full support to the development of the FCT for the interest of all. “We are also here to commend you for the bold step in establishing the Civil Service Commission for FCT, removing FCT from TSA and establishment of. Women Affairs Secretariat to address women’s concerns,” Aduda said. 

Concrete Roads More Durable, Cheap, Umahi Insists

The Minister of Works, David Umahi has reiterated that concrete has been discovered to be more durable and cost effective in the construction of roads in some parts of the country. A statement by the Director of Press FMW, Mrs Blessing Lere-Adams, disclosed that the minister said this during a meeting with Directors of the Ministry in Abuja. The meeting was held for the purposes of clarification on pavements built with concrete and asphalt. Umahi said there were a lot of advantages in using concrete in road construction, stressing that roads built with concrete could last for 50 years without having issues of portholes or washout. “Concrete roads have a longer lifespan, it can withstand heavy traffic loads, low maintenance, less affected by temperature fluctuations. “A lot of advantages accrue to the use of concrete to construct roads, concrete roads last longer, compared to asphalt roads, reducing the need for frequent repairs and maintenance. “It is stronger and can withstand heavy traffic loads, it also has low maintenance,” Umahi said. Umahi, however, stated that nobody was insisting that all ongoing road construction in the nation should be changed to concrete. He said such could happen under some conditions, including roads constructed with asphalt pavement must be on concrete shoulder, with an alternative design on the road shoulder. He added that some of the contractors were still working with obsolete and old machines. He encouraged the directors to come to him for any suggestion or logical argument, saying that the mission of Tinubu’s administration was to improve on the road infrastructure across the nation for the good of all. “I am appealing to our consciences to see ourselves as people going to the same direction and pursuing the same agenda for the betterment of all. “All those in the field are the same with people in the office. Services in the office is what is keeping the services in the site,” Umahi said. 

Wike Sets To Launch Comprehensive Roads Rehabilitation In Abuja

In a bid to enhance the state of road infrastructure in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the FCT, is gearing up to kickstart an extensive road rehabilitation and bridge repair project. The official launch is scheduled for Monday. Anthony Ogunleye, the Ministry’s Director of Press, made the announcement in a statement released on Saturday, emphasizing the significance of this initiative in improving the FCT’s road network. The comprehensive resurfacing project will target 135 roads across prominent districts such as Garki, Wuse, Gwarimpa, and Maitama. This endeavor is poised to breathe new life into these roads, ensuring their durability and improved functionality. The official flag-off ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m. along Ladoke Akintola Boulevard in Garki II, Abuja. This marks a pivotal moment as it signifies Minister Wike’s commitment to driving rapid infrastructure development within the nation’s capital. With this initiative, Nyesom Wike aims to set a promising precedent for significant infrastructure improvements and a brighter future for the FCT’s transportation network.