Gov Alia proposes ₦605.5bn 2026 budget, targets rural development, livelihood support in Benue

By Johnson Arua

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State on Wednesday presented a ₦605.5 billion 2026 Appropriation Bill to the Benue State House of Assembly, with a strong focus on rural development, livelihood support and sustained economic growth.

Presenting the budget estimates titled “Budget of Rural Development, Livelihood Support and Sustained Growth”, Governor Alia said the proposal represents a 10 per cent increase over the 2025 budget and is designed to deliver tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Benue citizens, particularly those in rural communities.

“This theme is not merely a slogan. It is the guiding philosophy of our development agenda,” the governor told lawmakers.

“The Benue story is fundamentally a rural story. To transform Benue State, we must transform these communities.”

According to the governor, the total budget size stood at ₦605.5 billion, made up of ₦281.08 billion for recurrent expenditure (46.4 per cent) and ₦342.42 billion for capital expenditure (54 per cent), maintaining a capital-heavy spending structure aimed at driving infrastructure and economic growth.

Governor Alia said the 2026 budget builds on the gains recorded in 2025 despite security challenges and economic headwinds.

He noted that Benue had strengthened security coordination through the deployment of over 5,000 Civil Protection Guards, leading to relative peace in previously affected communities.
“At a certain point, we were confronted by coordinated attacks from terrorists and criminal elements, but Benue did not bow,” he said. “We responded with courage, discipline and unity of purpose.”

On infrastructure, the governor disclosed that two underpasses in Makurdi are at 98 per cent completion, with about 50 kilometres of roads completed in the state capital and over 387 kilometres of road projects ongoing across the state. He added that Benue is now ranked fifth nationally in capital expenditure per capita.

The governor also highlighted progress in clearing salary and pension arrears inherited by his administration. “When we assumed office, we met 10 months of salary arrears. Today, we have reduced this to three months,” he said, adding that pension and gratuity arrears had also been reduced from 36 to 26 months.

In agriculture, Alia announced continued investment in agro-processing and value chains, including the near-completion of the Benue Beer (ZEVA) project and the test-run of a fruit juice factory. He said the government had also distributed 150,000 oil palm seedlings worth ₦300 million to boost household income and reduce poverty.

For 2026, the governor disclosed that 30.23 per cent of the capital budget has been allocated to rural roads and bridges, while 17.62 per cent will go to agriculture and agro-industrial development. Education and health will receive 24.71 per cent and 15.35 per cent of capital allocations respectively.
“Economic growth is meaningful only if it improves household welfare,” Alia said. “This budget expands livelihood programmes that protect the vulnerable, empower youths and elevate women, because development must be inclusive," he said.

On debt management, the governor revealed that Benue’s debt stock had been reduced by ₦68.9 billion in 2025 and that no loans approved by the House had been drawn. He said the state now meets all global debt sustainability benchmarks, with Fitch Ratings upgrading Benue’s outlook to B-Positive.

“Loan approval does not translate to immediate drawdown,” he assured lawmakers. “We will only access these funds if and when it becomes imperative for the progress of our state.”

Governor Alia expressed optimism that the proposed budget, if approved and effectively implemented, would reposition Benue for inclusive growth, job creation and long-term stability.

“This budget is not merely a compilation of figures; it is a transformational blueprint for the future of Benue State,” he said. “It speaks to our determination to build a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive Benue.”