By Dr. Ebuka Onyekwelu
The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo, has today presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to the Anambra State House of Assembly. The budget, though his 5th budget, is his 4th full-year budget and also the final for his first tenure, which terminates on 16th March, 2026.
In his opening remarks, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, PhD, noted that “budgets are not mere compilations of numbers and figures.” Accordingly, he observed that the 2026 budget represents a renewal of hope for Ndi Anambra. The Speaker also commended the governor for various infrastructure initiatives in the past years. Similarly, Rt. Hon. Udeze noted that the governor’s reelection is a testament to the people’s confidence in his leadership. This he said while stressing that the 2026 budget will set the pace for the governor’s second term.
Professor Soludo, who was declared the winner of the 2025 Anambra State gubernatorial election, presented a budget which he called a budget of “changing gears 3.0: Solution Continues.” The budget, which has a total sum of 700.8 billion as against 600.9 billion in 2025, carries the full and terminal weight of all expectations in Governor Soludo’s first term. The 2025 budget performance was pegged at over 60%, according to the governor. Speaking further, the governor also noted that the State has not borrowed to finance past budget deficits and does not intend to borrow in the coming fiscal year.
During his “state of the economy address”, Professor Charles Soludo thanked members of the House and Anambra voters. He also called on the opposition to join hands in building the state. “I extend my hand of fellowship. In the just-concluded election, democracy won. Anambra won,” Soludo said.
According to Soludo, in the past years, he has been committed to the five pillars of his administration. He also assured that he has strengthened the security architecture and intends to maintain it. “We have zero tolerance for criminality, dangerous native doctors who aid and promote criminality,” the governor remarked.
Furthermore, Soludo noted that the 5-star, 5-storey hotel will soon commence in Awka, the state capital. “As a government built on the APGA manifesto, we are intentional about lifting people out of poverty,” Soludo assured.
In 2026, Governor Soludo reaffirmed his government’s commitment to his five-point agenda and also assured that the construction of the Anambra Mixed-use Industrial City would commence in 2026.
The vote of thanks by the House was made on behalf of the Assembly by Hon. Ejike Okechukwu, the House Committee Chairman on Appropriation.
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