Diri propose ₦1.24tn Bayelsa 2027 budget, 68% for capital projects
- Governor Douye Diri don present ₦1.24tn budget proposal for Bayelsa 2027 fiscal year to di State House of Assembly.
- About 68 percent, or ₦840.79bn, na for capital projects, with Works and Infrastructure getting di largest share of ₦422.79bn.
- Di government dey target 100 megawatts of electricity and want di appropriation law to start working in January 2027.
Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri don present budget proposal of ₦1.24tn for di 2027 fiscal year, with most of di money set aside for projects instead of running costs.
Di proposal, wey dem tag as 2027 Budget of Assured Prosperity and Sustainable Growth and Development, dem lay am before di State House of Assembly for Yenagoa on Tuesday. E stand at ₦1,242,688,970,520.22, about 22 percent higher than di 2026 budget.
Diri talk say ₦840.79bn, roughly 68 percent, go go capital expenditure, while ₦401.90bn, about 32 percent, na for recurrent spending like salaries and overheads.
"More importantly, over two-thirds of every naira go capital expenditure," di governor talk, adding say na projects residents fit see, use and benefit from.
Where di money dey go
Ministry of Works and Infrastructure get di biggest allocation of ₦422.84bn. Education follow with ₦126.97bn, then Sports Development with ₦68.50bn, Health with ₦53.32bn, Security with ₦24bn, Public Utilities with ₦22.94bn and Agriculture with ₦17.74bn.
Diri talk say im first priority na to complete ongoing roads and bridges, especially di senatorial coastway projects wey dem mean to link communities and open up di state marine resources to trade.
On power, di government dey target 100 megawatts of electricity in 2027. Daily Trust report say dis go come on top of di existing 60-megawatt gas turbine wey dey supply power to di state. Diri also promise better water supply, starting with Yenagoa metropolitan area.
Di ₦68.50bn for sports dem expect to help finish di state 30,000-capacity stadium before di end of im tenure. For education, e promise continued support for model schools, accreditation for tertiary institutions, digital learning tools and teacher training. For health, e talk of better facilities, adequate staffing and steps to keep doctors and nurses, with focus on maternal and child health for Yenagoa and rural areas.
On agriculture, Diri talk say Bayelsa land and waterways give am potential to become major food producer, promising improved seedlings, fishing inputs and support for cooperatives.
Di assumptions and wetin go happen next
Di budget build on oil benchmark of $60 per barrel, crude production of 1.8 million barrels per day and exchange rate of ₦1,400 to dollar. E also assume 18 percent inflation and 3.5 percent economic growth. Diri acknowledge say these na assumptions and say oil prices fit volatile.
E describe di proposal as historic, being di first budget of Bayelsa fourth decade and di last one wey di current Assembly go consider. E ask lawmakers to pass am quick so di appropriation law fit take effect in January 2027.
Di Speaker, Abraham Ingobere, wey Deputy Speaker Michael Ogbere represent, commend di governor for presenting di budget on time and assure say di Assembly go give am di needed consideration.
For ordinary residents, di test go be whether di roads, power, water and hospital promises go turn to visible change. Di figures na proposals until di House pass dem into law.
