According to reporting by Vanguard, the National Assembly has officially passed the 2026 Appropriation Bill, authorizing a total expenditure of ₦68.323 trillion. This final figure marks a significant upward revision from the ₦58.47 trillion initially proposed by the Presidency, following a strategic request to accommodate “legacy commitments” in infrastructure and social welfare.
The approved fiscal plan allocates nearly half of the total budget—approximately ₦32.287 trillion—to capital projects, signaling a heavy shift toward long-term economic stimulation over recurrent consumption. Key sectors such as transportation, healthcare, and the judiciary received substantial boosts to ensure the completion of critical national projects.
ThisDay confirmed the passage, noting that the “Senate and House of Representatives aligned to expand the budget to ₦68.3 trillion,” while The Nation reported that “the 2026 budget focuses on completing legacy road and rail projects to unlock economic value.”
Echotitbits take: This is Nigeria’s largest budget to date. The real test will be the ₦32 trillion capital expenditure; if executed transparently, it could finally address the country’s infrastructure deficit, but it also raises concerns about debt sustainability as the deficit widens.
Source: The Cable – https://www.thecable.ng/nassembly-passes-n68-3trn-2026-budget-after-tinubus-upward-review-request/, and April 3, 2026
Photo credit: The Cable
