Governors Mohammed, Uzodimma, Fintiri, Yusuf, and Ododo Sign 2026 Budgets, Setting the Stage for Massive State-Level Development Projects

In a synchronized wave of executive action to beat the New Year deadline, five state governors have officially signed their 2026 Appropriation Bills into law, authorizing hundreds of billions in spending for the upcoming fiscal year.

Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano, and Ahmed Ododo of Kogi performed the signing ceremonies in their respective state capitals, marking a critical transition into what many are calling the “Year of Project Completion.”

In Kano, Governor Abba Yusuf signed a ₦549.1 billion budget, one of the largest in the North, with a heavy emphasis on education and the revitalization of the state’s industrial sectors. The Governor noted that the budget was carefully crafted to ensure that the “common man” feels the direct impact of government spending through subsidized agricultural inputs and improved healthcare.

Meanwhile, in Imo, Governor Hope Uzodimma appended his signature to a ₦600.3 billion budget. He described the document as a “roadmap for industrialization,” stating that the 2026 fiscal year will see a massive push for the dualization of interstate roads to facilitate trade and security.

The Northeastern states of Bauchi and Adamawa followed suit, with Governors Bala Mohammed and Ahmadu Fintiri signing budgets of ₦300.2 billion and ₦225.8 billion, respectively. Both leaders emphasized that their budgets are designed to sustain the current tempo of infrastructural development while providing a cushion for civil servants against the rising cost of living.

In Kogi, Governor Ahmed Ododo signed a ₦258.2 billion “Budget of Hope and Unity.” This being his first major budget cycle since the transition, Ododo emphasized that the funds would be directed toward grassroots empowerment and the strengthening of the state’s security architecture to protect farmers and investors.

Common across all five signings was a stern warning to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). The governors collectively stressed that with the new 2025 Tax Reform Acts providing a more structured revenue framework, there would be “zero tolerance” for fund mismanagement or the stalling of approved projects.

As the 2026 administrative year begins, the focus shifts to the implementation phase. With over ₦1.9 trillion collectively authorized across these five states, the coming months will be a significant test of state-level governance and fiscal accountability in Nigeria.