Jigawa Allocates Over 8% of 2026 Budget to Agriculture

News in Brief

-Jigawa State's 2026 budget proposes ₦901.8 billion, with 77% for capital projects and agriculture receiving ₦74.98 billion (8.3%) to drive mechanisation and irrigation for food security.

-Road construction leads allocations at ₦186.37 billion, followed by education, signalling a focus on infrastructure and human development.

Jigawa State has earmarked ₦74.98 billion of its proposed ₦901.8 billion 2026 budget for the agriculture sector. This represents 8.3% of the total 2026 budget and a 44% decline from the 2025 agriculture budgetary allocation of ₦136bn.

The proposed budget, titled Budget of Innovation & Transformation for Greater Jigawa II, was presented to the Jigawa State House of Assembly by Governor Umar Namadi. 

It marks a 19.2% increase from the 2025 total allocation of ₦756.3 billion. Capital expenditure accounts for 77% of the total (₦693.4 billion). 

“The 2026 proposed budget will majorly adopt the philosophy and policy thrust that informed the 2025 budget. Our major focus will be the pursuit of inclusive and human-centred economic growth, leveraging agriculture, SMEs, and critical infrastructure,” Namadi says.

According to the governor, the budget is anchored on the state's 12-Point Agenda and Comprehensive Development Framework, prioritising inclusive growth through agriculture, infrastructure, and human capital.

Agriculture Gets N74.98bn, 8.3% Share

Agriculture and livestock development secures ₦74.98 billion, approximately 8.3% of the total budget and second only to road construction at ₦186.37 billion (20.7%). This funding targets food security, mechanisation, irrigation expansion, and livestock productivity amid Nigeria's push for agricultural transformation. 

Governor Namadi emphasised the importance of agriculture for economic diversification, stating investments reflect a commitment to prosperity for Jigawa's farming communities.

Although it falls below the Maputo Declaration's 10% benchmark, the allocation aligns with the state's Medium-Term Sector Strategy (MTSS) for agriculture. It targets a gradual rise in budget allocation for agriculture towards 2030.  It also surpasses many other states and supports climate-smart initiatives, such as irrigation in rural areas, which are vital to young farmers and entrepreneurs. 

Governor Namadi further revealed that the state expects to fund the budget through multiple revenue sources, which include statutory allocation (₦96.3bn), VAT share (₦102bn), other federal transfers (₦223bn), internally generated revenue (₦88.9bn), local government reimbursements, and capital receipts totalling ₦349bn.