Infrastructure, Education, Water Projects Dominate Gov Diri’s N998bn 2026 Budget Proposal
By Dim Oba – Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has once again demonstrated his administration’s commitment to inclusive growth and infrastructural transformation with the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill of ₦998,371,313,943.04 to the State House of Assembly.
The budget, aptly christened the “Budget of Assured Prosperity II,” reflects a bold and strategic continuation of Diri’s development blueprint, with a clear focus on infrastructure, education, health, and social services aimed at consolidating the gains of previous years.
According to the governor, the 2026 budget will be financed through multiple revenue streams, including statutory allocation (₦42.2bn), Value Added Tax (₦84bn), 13% derivation (₦212.6bn), and other FAAC allocations (₦488bn). Additional sources include internally generated revenue (₦85.9bn), grants (₦24.9bn), and domestic loans (₦50bn).
Governor Diri explained that capital expenditure remains the heart of the 2026 fiscal plan, with ₦645.2bn (64.6%) dedicated to capital projects and ₦353.1bn (35.4%) earmarked for recurrent expenditure.
Infrastructure Remains Priority
As has been the trend in recent years, the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure received the largest allocation of ₦298.6bn, signaling the administration’s resolve to complete ongoing projects and initiate new ones across the state.
“These allocations underscore our commitment to developing a connected Bayelsa,” Diri stated, highlighting projects such as the three senatorial roads, Glory Drive Phase 3 linking Imgbi Road with a bridge crossing the Epie Creek, the Ogu–Akaba–Okodi Road, Sabagreia–Polaku Road, and the Toru–Orua–Kabeama–Ebeni Road.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s plan to complete the nine-storey civil servants’ secretariat and various internal road projects designed to ease movement and stimulate economic growth.
Education, Health and Water in Focus
The Education Ministry received ₦75.1bn, a move that the governor described as critical to producing skilled manpower for the future.
The Health sector got ₦39.7bn, while Sports received ₦46.5bn, underscoring the administration’s efforts to promote youth development and wellness.
Significantly, the 2026 budget earmarked ₦10.8bn for the provision of pipe-borne water, reflecting the governor’s earlier promise to tackle the long-standing challenge of potable water supply within the Yenagoa metropolis and other parts of the state.
Other major allocations include ₦16.5bn for power generation and supply, ₦21.5bn for security, and ₦15.6bn for agriculture, each designed to strengthen economic resilience and boost productivity across sectors.
A Vision Anchored on Partnership
Governor Diri commended the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere, and members of the Assembly for their consistent cooperation and partnership with the executive arm. He urged them to give the appropriation bill “careful consideration and expeditious passage.”
“Mr Speaker, Bayelsans elected us to take bold actions to improve their quality of life. That is what we are doing and will continue to do. I trust that when history reviews our actions and this budget, our choices will be seen as the right ones,” the governor affirmed.
In his response, Speaker Ingobere praised the governor’s consistent investment in critical sectors like infrastructure, education, sports, and healthcare, noting that these interventions had transformed the landscape of the state.
“From my assessment, the overhaul of the education sector, infrastructure development, and establishment of vocational schools in all local government areas are yielding huge dividends,” he said, assuring that the Assembly would treat the budget proposal as a priority.
Assured Prosperity in Perspective
The 2026 Budget of Assured Prosperity II builds on the achievements of the 2025 fiscal year, which recorded a 73 percent performance rate, particularly in capital expenditure implementation.
With renewed emphasis on infrastructure, education, and water projects, the Diri administration’s 2026 budget paints a picture of continuity and consolidation—an ambitious plan to translate Bayelsa’s abundant resources into tangible prosperity for its people.
