Ondo Ups 2026 Budget to N769bn for Infrastructure Drive

​Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has initiated a massive upward review of the 2026 fiscal budget, scaling the appropriation size from N524.411 billion to N769.384 billion to aggressively fast-track legacy infrastructural projects across the state.

​The decision follows a comprehensive mid-year performance review of the original Appropriation Law—which was signed on December 29, 2025, and took effect on January 1. The revised fiscal document has now been transmitted to the Ondo State House of Assembly for legislative ratification.

​Briefing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting in Akure, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Olaolu Akindolire, explained that the upward adjustment is engineered to bridge funding gaps, accommodate surging development demands, and sustain momentum on capital projects.

​According to the mid-year appraisal, while several Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) approached or exhausted their initial provisions due to heightened public demand, others lagged behind due to operational bottlenecks. The revised framework is tailored to realign allocations and optimize resource utilization for the remainder of the fiscal year.

​At the heart of the capital intensification plan is a sweeping directive by Governor Aiyedatiwa mandating the construction of at least five kilometres of asphalt roads in each of the state’s 18 local government areas, translating to a minimum of 90 kilometres of brand-new rural-urban connecting roads before the close of 2026. State officials noted that the road infrastructure blitz is designed to improve socio-economic connectivity, ease agricultural logistics from hinterlands to urban markets, and bridge the access gap to schools and medical centers.

​Additionally, the revised budget makes robust financial provisions for high-impact projects, notably the ongoing construction of the Adegbola–St. Mathias flyover along the busy Oba Adesida Road in Alagbaka, Akure. Substantial allocations have also been channeled into public water schemes and healthcare delivery systems to upgrade primary and secondary health facilities against emerging public health needs.

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​In a parallel development, the State Executive Council ratified the appointment of Prof. Thompson Akinyele Akinifesi as the pioneer Ekingbade of Bolorunduro in Ondo East Local Government Area, hailed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, as a milestone for the headquarters of Bolorunduro Local Government.

​The council further approved the selection of warrant chiefs to jumpstart processes for filling vacant traditional stools across the state, including the Olokun of Ikun Akoko (Akoko South-West LGA), the Olute of Ute (Ose LGA), and the Ekiri of Ero (Ifedore LGA). Takuro emphasized that the state government remains dedicated to upholding due process and ensuring seamless installations of traditional rulers without undue political interference.

​Reaffirming the administration’s policy trajectory, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, maintained that Governor Aiyedatiwa’s government remains resolute in its promise to transform the infrastructural landscape of the Sunshine State and translate public resources into tangible dividends of democracy.