Fubara to Present N1.84tn Rivers 2026 Budget Amid Tension

(Siminalayi Fubara. Photo by Premuim Times)

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, is set to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill before the State House of Assembly on Friday, a development that would mark a significant step towards ending months of fiscal uncertainty in the state.

The presentation follows the Assembly’s approval, two weeks ago, of the 2026–2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, the fiscal document that outlines government revenue projections and expenditure plans over the three-year period and forms the basis for the annual budget.

Based on the framework, the state is projecting a budget size of N1.84 trillion for 2026, with recurrent expenditure pegged at over N400 billion and capital projects taking up more than N1.4 trillion, a breakdown that reflects the administration’s stated infrastructure-driven priorities.

Speaker Martin Amaewhule, while presenting the MTEF document on the floor of the Assembly, commended the executive for producing what he described as a working fiscal blueprint for the state over the next three years.

He, however, raised concerns over the framework’s revenue assumptions, arguing that the projections fall short of current realities, particularly in light of prevailing crude oil prices in the international market.

The anticipated presentation of the 2026 budget has drawn considerable public attention after taking longer than expected to reach the Assembly.

A delay that has fuelled widespread speculation, with political observers linking it to the prolonged disagreement between the executive and legislative arms of government in the state.

Once presented, the appropriation bill will undergo legislative scrutiny before it can be passed into law and implemented.