Solution Continues With Budget Powered To Gear 3

CHRISTOPHER CHIMELU 

The renewed mandate given to Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, received a booster on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 when Mr. Governor presented the Draft Anambra State Budget Proposals for 2026 entitled “Changing Gears 3.0: Solution Continues”. Still basking in the glory of the unprecedented voter turn-out and a historic 73 percent of the votes of Ndi-Anambra that ensured his victory in all the 21 local government areas, Soludo said: “Democracy won, Anambra won, and we are here to serve you. Ours is one state, one people, with one agenda. Let us unite and build Anambra together!”

Soludo’s proposed budget size for the 2026 fiscal year is ₦757,884,487,705. This represents a 24.1 percent increase when compared to the 2025 budget of ₦606,991,849,118. The recurrent expenditure is projected at ₦162.6 billion that amounts to a 16.6 percent year-on-year growth. Capital expenditure stands at ₦595.3 billion which represents a 26.3 percent growth relative to 2025.

It is indeed noteworthy that the capital budget accounts for 79 percent of the total budget size while recurrent expenditure stands at 21 percent. This is a clear demonstration of Governor Soludo’s devotion to politics of development instead of momentary stomach infrastructure.

As things stand, the budget deficit is estimated at ₦225.7 billion which represents 29.8 percent of the total budget size. In the words of Soludo, “this deficit is expected to be financed, if necessary, through hybrid financing options including possible privatization proceeds, bump in IGR collections, and concessionary borrowing mostly for bankable projects.”

According to Soludo, “since the beginning of this administration, we have not borrowed to finance budget deficits, and depending on the pace of execution in 2026, we may still not need to borrow. Our fiscal discipline remains firm.”

In comparison to Year 2025, Soludo stated that “all key sectors increased year-on-year: Administrative Sector (12.2%), Economic Sector (26.7%), Social Sector (31.4%), Education (46.9%), Health (13%), and Infrastructure Investments (27.7%). These increases reflect our priorities in strengthening human capital, boosting economic growth, expanding critical infrastructure, and securing the well-being of Ndi Anambra.”

It needs to be recalled that on November 19, 2024, Soludo presented to the Anambra House of Assembly the 2025 Budget entitled “Changing Gears 2.0”. The next budget after the 2026 budget will definitely see Governor Soludo shooting into a fast Gear 4!

For Soludo, there is no slowing down in the Anambra journey. He gives his solemn word to “accentuate the drive as this is an agenda with a deadline.” He is in earnest focused on the acceleration mode, driven by a steadfast commitment to execution. Through the course of 2026, he intends to focus even more intensely and intentionally on the full execution of his multi-faceted agenda. He boldly stated: “Yes, indeed Solution Continues — and surely in the second term of this administration, we will turn on to Gear 4 for speedy acceleration as we continue to lay solid foundations en route to Anambra’s African-Dubai-Taiwan-SiliconValley (ADTS) vision.”

Soludo’s focus in 2026 is to deepen and consolidate the foundations laid in his first tenure while also introducing new legacy projects that will define Anambra’s future for decades to come. The central priorities remain Security, Law and Order; Infrastructure and Economic Transformation; and Human Capital Development. About 70 percent of the 2026 budget is allocated to these critical sectors, reflecting their importance to Anambra State’s long-term development trajectory. Soludo gives the assurance that he is bent on sustaining the momentum of Anambra’s transport infrastructure revolution, especially the building and dualizing of strategic roads, bridges, and flyovers that connect the entire state.

He pledges to continue major investments in the state’s mass transit systems by expanding buses, developing new jetties, acquiring boats, and facilitating safer, faster transportation along Anambra’s waterways.

Soludo has set plans afoot on exploring Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) financing model for Anambra’s Rail Masterplan. Soludo continues thusly: “Alongside this, we are progressing with the development of three new cities: Awka 2.0, Greater Niger, and the Aerotropolis/New Industrial-commercial City.”

Soludo informs that “the construction of the Anambra Mixed-Use Industrial City will commence in earnest in 2026. This project signals the next phase of our industrial transformation. Urban planning and regeneration will be accelerated. Furthermore, we will intensify efforts to enhance the Ease of Doing Business in Anambra State, ensuring that our State remains the preferred destination for both local and foreign investors.”

Soludo’s 2026 plan is to deepen ongoing investments in education by sustaining Anambra’s free and qualitative education and bursary scheme. According to Soludo, “We will continue constructing new schools, while upgrading and equipping existing ones to meet modern standards. To begin, we will commence the construction of new public primary schools in 30 out of the 76 communities that have never had a public primary school, setting a new benchmark for what an ideal school should look like in Anambra State.” Soludo is also poised to establish two specialist tertiary institutions to strengthen Anambra’s higher education.

In all, the shared goal is to ensure that every child in Anambra State has access to qualitative and transformative education for the 21st century.

Additionally, there will be the deepening of ongoing interventions in healthcare and, completing the investment in the entire healthcare ecosystem with the completion of the College of Nursing and the construction of a specialist teaching hospital with specialization in Oncology.

There will be the scaling up of the One Youth, Two Skills programme to accommodate even more young people and equipping them with the skills and resources needed to thrive as entrepreneurs. The intensification of investment in digital skills development will include the completion of the iconic Solution Innovation District (SID) building and the development of the broader district in partnership with the private sector, further positioning Anambra as a growing hub for technology and innovation.

Soludo stresses that the state’s weakest link remains the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). He promised that in the coming weeks his government will be partnering to launch an aggressive, technology-driven renewal of Anambra’s revenue system through blocking leakages, widening the tax net, supporting willing taxpayers, and enforcing compliance where necessary.

With the 2026 budget, Soludo and his Solution Team are determined to continue working day and night to lay the solid foundations for the prosperous, livable, and smart homeland that Mr. Governor envisioned.

– Dr Chimelu is a public affairs analyst based in Awka, Anambra State.