Umo Eno Expands Akwa Ibom 2025 Budget to ₦1.7trn, Declares Health Emergency

UYO – Governor Umo Eno has moved to expand Akwa Ibom State’s 2025 budget from ₦980 billion to ₦1.7 trillion, following the approval of a ₦695 billion supplementary budget proposal at Friday’s State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting in Uyo.

The decision, announced by the Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, will adjust the 2025 budget to ₦1.65 trillion, comprising ₦125.6 billion for recurrent expenditure and ₦569.3 billion for capital projects, in addition to the original ₦955 billion appropriation.

Umanah explained that the supplementary funds would cover the implementation of the new minimum wage, allowances for NYSC members, flood and erosion control, completion of inflation-affected projects, new infrastructure, purchase of CNG mass transit buses, and development initiatives including new housing estates, a tree crop revolution, ARISE Shopping City, and acquisition of a new aircraft.

The EXCO also approved amendments to the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), raising it in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Law.

Meanwhile, Governor Eno declared a state of emergency in the health sector after another maternal death was reported at the General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene. Under the emergency measures, the state will upgrade medical facilities, recruit 2,000 healthcare workers (with VIN requirements waived), train health professionals, engage retired medical staff on contract, and strengthen health training institutions.

An inter-ministerial steering committee, chaired by Health Commissioner Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John, has been set up to drive reforms. The council also fixed October 15, 2025, for the launch of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Akwa Ibom Geographic Information System (AKWAGIS) projects.