By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
Enugu State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Chief Chris-Roberts Ozongwu, on Thursday gave a detailed breakdown of the state’s N971.84 billion 2025 budget,tagged ‘Budget of Exponential Growth and Inclusive Prosperity’.
Ozongwu gave the breakdown during a media briefing.
He said that the 2025 budget estimate was over N450 billion higher than the previous year’s figure of N521.5 billion, representing 86.4 per cent increase.
The Commissioner said that the 2024 budget had achieved 92.6 per cent success, adding “this is remarkable and unprecedented achievement compared to any budget in the country.”
According to him, the 2025 budget’s vision was to grow the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from $4.4 billion to $30 billion, adding that N133.1 billion would go into recurrent expenditure, while N837.9 billion would be spent on capital expenditure.
Speaking on key sectoral projects earmarked to be executed next year, Ozongwu disclosed that in education, which got the largest chunk of N320.6 billion; the government would construct 200 Integrated Model Smart Schools (Primary 1 – JSS 3) at N100 billion.
The Commissioner said:”The government earmarked N146 billion for equipping Smart Schools across the 260 political wards in the state. The government will spend N10.7 billion for upgrading of three of state public secondary schools to Smart High Secondary Schools (structures).
“The government also earmarked construction of Smart Senior Secondary Schools at N10 billion.
“The government would upgrade campuses of Awgu and Oji River Nursing Schools with new facilities with N1 billion and N500 million for first-phase construction of 3-storey buildings for standard library, auditorium and classrooms at Awgu campus among others.”
Ozongwu added that in the health sector, the government had earmarked N20 billion for construction of Enugu International Hospital, Rangers Avenue; and N500 million for establishment of Enugu Blood Service Commission (construction of building, furnishing and equipping).
“The government has earmarked N10 billion for construction of 230 Type-2 Primary Health Care facilities across the state and another N4 billion for equipping of the 229 Type-2 Primary Health Care facilities across the state.
“The government earmarked N350 million for construction of two-storey building at Iji-Nike (ESUT Teaching Hospital Parklane) and earmarked N1.7 billion for purchase of hospital equipment for General Surgery/other instruments across cottage and general hospitals in the state.
“The government intends to upgrade/renovate 10 cottage hospitals and 12 general hospitals at N1.5 billion among others,” he disclosed.
The Commissioner noted that for the transport sector, the government earmarked N1 billion for vehicle tracking system through a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) agreement; and earmarked N2 billion for procurement of 2000 taxis for youth empowerment scheme.
Ozongwu noted that the government would spend N2 billion as equity contribution for additional 100 buses for the intra-city mass transit concession and earmarked N5 billion for procurement of 200 tipper trucks for mining.
He said: “The government is to spend N1.2 billion for construction of ultra modern logistics hub; N1.6 billion for construction of one transport interchange via PPP and N1 billion for provision of traffic signage/road marking.
“The government has earmarked N10 billion for construction of 10 Electric Charging points; N2 billion for equity contribution for phase one of 135.4kilometres rail and N19 billion for provision of four aircraft for Enugu Air, among others.”
The Commissioner also gave breakdown on other sectors, which included works and infrastructure, tourism, water, agriculture, electricity, energy and mineral resources, housing, youth and sports and administrative sectors, among others.
