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In a significant move signaling a shift toward grassroots development, Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, assented to the 2026 Appropriation Bill on December 31, 2025, approving a total budget of N695.01 billion. The budget, passed by the Benue State House of Assembly earlier that day, represents an increase of N89.5 billion over the governor’s initial proposal of N605.51 billion submitted to the legislature.
Christened the “Budget of Rural Development, Livelihood Support and Sustained Growth,” the spending plan underscores the administration’s commitment to addressing long-standing infrastructure deficits in rural areas, which form the economic backbone of the state known as Nigeria’s “Food Basket.” Speaking shortly after signing the bill into law, Governor Alia described it as a people-focused initiative rooted in current realities and aimed at fostering inclusive prosperity.
“At the heart of Benue lies a strong rural foundation that feeds the nation, preserves our culture, and anchors our path to inclusive growth,” the governor stated. “For decades, these rural communities carried the weight of neglect, despite feeding the nation. With this budget, we make a bold declaration: the era of rural neglect is over.”
Key priorities include massive investments in feeder roads, bridges, water supply projects, rural electrification, and climate-smart infrastructure to better connect farms to markets and communities to essential services like schools and hospitals. “When we connect farms to markets, we unlock wealth. When we connect communities to schools and hospitals, we secure dignity. When rural Benue thrives, the entire state prospers,” Alia emphasized.
Agriculture and agro-industrial development also receive substantial backing, with expanded access to subsidized inputs, mechanization, extension services, aggregation centers, and cottage processing facilities. The governor stressed that the goal is not just growing crops but building value chains, creating jobs, and boosting incomes for farmers, whom he called “the pride of this land.”
The House of Assembly, led by Speaker Rt. Hon. Alfred Emberga (also referred to as Aondoaaver in some contexts), was commended for its diligent, transparent, and patriotic scrutiny of the proposal, aligning it with economic realities and the administration’s vision. Presenting the bill for assent, the Speaker highlighted the lawmakers’ painstaking analysis.
In a statement issued by Chief Press Secretary Sir Tersoo Kula, Governor Alia called for collective responsibility, urging citizens, development partners, the private sector, traditional institutions, civil society groups, and the media to view the budget as an invitation to partnership. He assured that implementation would proceed with discipline and accountability, with success ultimately measured by tangible improvements in the lives of Benue residents.
This 2026 budget builds on the administration’s ongoing efforts to reposition the state’s economy amid previous challenges, marking a deliberate pivot toward sustainable rural transformation and livelihood support as the new year begins.
