The Anambra State Government, led by Governor Charles Soludo, achieved a 22.8 percent revenue performance in the first half of 2026. The state generated ₦174.54 billion against a target of ₦766.37 billion set in its annual budget.
This information comes from the state's 2026 second-quarter budget performance report that was reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES.
The report shows that the state's revenue for this period included ₦5.36 billion carried over from 2025, ₦124.24 billion from its share of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), and ₦44.94 billion raised internally.
No revenue came from grants, aids, or loans during this time.
The low revenue coincides with poor overall budget implementation. Anambra recorded ₦143.63 billion in total expenditure in the first six months. This is only 18.7 percent of the ₦766.37 billion annual budget.
Out of this spending, ₦40.79 billion was for recurrent expenditure, while ₦102.84 billion went to capital projects.
Anambra’s 2026 budget is among the largest in the South-east, planning to spend ₦766.37 billion this year.
Major Spending on Works
Looking at capital expenditure, the report shows that the Ministry of Works received the biggest share. It got ₦79.02 billion during this period.
The Ministry of Health came next with ₦10.53 billion.
The Office of the Governor received ₦4.44 billion, and the Ministry of Education got ₦2.52 billion.
The Office of the Secretary to the State Government ranked fifth, with ₦1.46 billion released.
This spending shows a big focus on physical infrastructure and health. The Ministry of Works alone took a large chunk of the ₦102.84 billion spent in the first six months.
But some sectors saw no capital funds released during this time.
For example, the Ministry of Agriculture had ₦1.95 billion set aside in the 2026 budget but received nothing in the first half of the year, as noted in the report.
₦13.79 Billion for Security
The state government spent ₦13.79 billion on security during this period.
The largest part of this was the security vote, which included operational costs. ₦13.40 billion was released against a budgeted ₦20.80 billion, showing a 64.4 percent performance.
Another ₦392.37 million was used for security services out of a budget of ₦689.55 million, which is 56.9 percent performance.
This spending comes amid ongoing security issues in the state, including killings, cult violence, kidnappings, armed robbery, and attacks by criminal and separatist groups.
In January, the police reported a gun battle with a gang of five suspected armed robbers and cultists at Enugwu-Agidi Junction in Dunukofia Local Government Area. Two suspects were killed, and weapons were seized.
That same month, police also investigated cases of alleged child trafficking and kidnapping after rescuing children from a compound in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area.
In February, gunmen killed the President-General of Ogidi community, Ikwuka Okoye, and another person. Police linked this to the killing of a suspected cult leader by local security forces.
In March, police arrested suspected armed robbers and cultists in Ogidi, seizing firearms, ammunition, and a stolen petrol tanker. They also investigated a case of staged kidnapping where ₦240,000 was taken from the victim's family.
In April, suspected cultists killed a man in Nnobi, Idemili South Local Government Area. The police rescued an electrician who had been kidnapped under the guise of a job offer and arrested three suspects in the same area.
The security issues continued into May. Police arrested a 22-year-old suspected cultist in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area, who allegedly confessed to killing five people. They also raided a suspected secessionist camp in Owerre-Ezukala, recovering advanced weapons and ammunition.
In June, police killed four gunmen during a security operation along Ogboji-Ajalli Road in Orumba South. They also reported recovering weapons, ammunition, and explosive devices.
The security situation worried the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, who called on Anambra residents in June to stop hiding kidnappers and criminals and to report them to security agencies.
The European Union Agency for Asylum’s assessment of Anambra identifies cultism, armed robbery, killings, and kidnappings as major security problems. They also noted attacks on security forces and vigilantes.
Revenue Concerns Persist
Despite the spending on security and capital projects, Anambra's revenue performance is still far below what is needed for its ambitious 2026 budget.
With ₦174.54 billion generated or brought forward in the first half of the year against a target of ₦766.37 billion, Anambra must boost revenue collection in the coming months to meet its yearly goals.
The figures also show the state's heavy reliance on federal allocations. FAAC funds made up ₦124.24 billion, or about 71 percent of the ₦174.54 billion revenue recorded during this period, while internal revenue contributed ₦44.94 billion.
The report did not show any funds from loans, grants, or aid during the period.
The mix of low revenue and high capital spending means that the state’s ability to keep its 2026 budget plan will depend on improving revenue collection and federal allocations in the second half of the year.
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