By: Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto.

The Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, has presented the 2026 Budget Proposal to the State House of Assembly.

The budget highlights key areas of focus for the upcoming year.

The proposed budget stands at ₦758.7 billion and is mainly focused on socio-economic expansion.

Revenue Breakdown:
FAAC allocation – ₦389.3 billion
Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) – ₦74.5 billion
Capital receipts – ₦233.8 billion

Key Sectors and Allocations:
Security – ₦45.3 billion, earmarked for the procurement of equipment and vehicles, as well as support for security agencies.

Health – ₦122.7 billion, to be spent on the completion of hospitals, procurement of medical equipment, and recruitment of personnel.

Education – ₦115.9 billion, covering basic education, science, and higher education.

Agriculture – ₦18.7 billion, allocated for fertilizer, tractors, and other farm inputs.

Water Resources – ₦41.1 billion, for solar-powered energy projects, water treatment, and rural water supply.

Religious Affairs – ₦17.5 billion, for mosque construction, Islamiyya schools, and Ramadan services.

Works and Transportation – ₦109.1 billion, dedicated to road construction, provision of buses, and other transportation infrastructure projects, among others.

In summary, the budget prioritises security by addressing insecurity, procuring security equipment, and supporting security agencies; health through the completion of hospitals, procurement of medical equipment, and recruitment of personnel; education by improving infrastructure and services; and agriculture by supporting farmers with fertilizer, tractors, and farm inputs.

The governor also emphasised transparency in the budget, noting that there would be no borrowing or outstanding debts, with 72 per cent of the budget allocated to capital expenditure.