FG Reaffirms 2026 Budget as catalyst for Grassroots Development, Infrastructure Renewal and Economic Self-Reliance

FG Reaffirms 2026 Budget as catalyst for Grassroots Development, Infrastructure Renewal and Economic Self-Reliance

The Federal Government has reaffirmed that the 2026 national budget will prioritise ward-based development, critical infrastructure, strengthened security architecture, and expanded domestic production as Nigeria adjusts to sharply declining global development assistance .

Speaking at the Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting with the International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO) Forum on Monday in Abuja, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said the 2026 budget cycle is strategically designed to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy.

Bagudu explained that the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework approved by the Federal Executive Council outlines the fiscal assumptions guiding the upcoming budget, including revenue projections, production targets, and a renewed focus on community-level economic expansion. He noted that the Renewed Hope Ward Development Plan will deploy tailored programmes across all 8,809 wards to deepen grassroots prosperity and facilitate more inclusive growth.

The Minister further highlighted ongoing plans to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure base through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund, which he said represents a joint commitment by the Federal Government and state governors to maintain a minimum level of essential infrastructure investment required to sustain ongoing macroeconomic reforms. He added that the three tiers of government have also agreed to scale up investment in security, referencing a recent assessment of security training institutions led by the Governor of Enugu State, which recommended an initial One Hundred Billion Naira for institutional upgrades. President Tinubu, he said, has already directed the recruitment of additional security personnel and the redeployment of officers from non-operational posts to boost frontline capacity.

Bagudu emphasized that domestic production will receive renewed focus across key sectors as part of broader measures agreed upon by the President and state governors to strengthen economic self-reliance.

He described the engagement with INGOs as critical to strengthening coordination, improving local capacity, and aligning partner support with Nigeria’s 2026–2030 development plans. According to him, INGOs play an essential role in helping government refine reforms, draw from global best practices, and maintain public understanding of ongoing policy actions.

“We are here to show appreciation on behalf of our nation to all the International NGOs supporting Nigeria’s progress, and to learn from their experiences. Our reforms have been bold and tough under the able leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and we could not have advanced them without broad public acceptance and the support of our development partners,” he said.

Director of the Nigeria INGO Forum, Camilla Higgins, said the meeting comes at a critical moment as global overseas development assistance continues to shrink dramatically. She noted that while Nigeria faces growing humanitarian pressures, it is simultaneously transitioning out of the internationally coordinated humanitarian system that has operated for over a decade.

Higgins disclosed that the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan sought $910 million but has received only 24 percent of expected funding, underscoring the need for alternative national systems capable of sustaining support for vulnerable populations.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to sustained collaboration with INGOs to strengthen coordination, deepen accountability, and ensure that all development and humanitarian interventions remain aligned with Nigeria’s long-term national priorities.