Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Rivers State Executive Council has approved a proposed N1.854 trillion budget for the 2026 fiscal year, tagged the “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development.”
The approval came yesterday at the first Exco meeting of the year, presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the Government House, Port Harcourt, with Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu in attendance.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Matters and Social Development, Prof. Peter Medee, confirmed the total budgetary allocation at N1,854,248,734,475.76 for goods and services across the state in 2026.
“The main thrust of the 2026 proposed estimate has been fashioned to enable the State accomplish and conclude ongoing projects, as well as clear our outstanding obligations in key critical sectors,” Prof. Medee said.
He explained that the budget priorities include infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, human capacity development, youth empowerment, culture, tourism, and information and communications technology, all aligned with the administration’s development agenda.
Prof. Medee further announced the budget theme, stating: “The State Executive Council has respectfully approved and considered that the budget theme for 2026 is the Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development. In spite of many challenges, the State Government has remained resilient, dogged, and focused, achieving key targets as part of our commitment to the people of Rivers State.”
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr. Honour Sirawoo, emphasized the careful scrutiny the proposal underwent, noting that the administration aimed to ensure value-for-money spending and measurable impact on citizens’ welfare.
“The Governor Siminalayi Fubara administration is determined to bridge the lost grounds. Upon that reason, a very robust budget figure has been arrived at after very conscious deliberations to put our State where it needs to be,” Dr. Sirawoo said.
Also present at the briefing was the Special Adviser on Finance, Barr. Emmanuel Frank Fubara, who contributed to the financial deliberations and validation of the proposed budget.
The announcement signals Rivers State’s commitment to consolidating gains, completing ongoing projects, and addressing critical social and economic obligations, with a clear focus on resilience, growth, and sustainable development for 2026.
