President Bola Tinubu will present the 2027 budget to the National Assembly before the end of the year, the Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Doris Anite-Uzoka, has said.
Anite-Uzoka disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Tinubu at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.
“We are working on the budget for 2027, and the intention is to present it before the end of the year,” she said in response to a question on when the budget would be submitted to the National Assembly.
The disclosure comes weeks after the Budget Office of the Federation directed all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to submit their 2027 personnel cost proposals, alongside their establishment Acts, by 18 September 2026.
The directive was contained in a Personnel Costs Budget Call Circular dated 4 September 2026 and signed by the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu.
Under the circular, MDAs were required to attach their establishment Acts to their budget proposals, a requirement introduced following the discovery of alleged fictitious agencies by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
Agencies not captured on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System or the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System were also barred from receiving personnel cost provisions in the 2027 budget.
Anite-Uzoka also disclosed that the Federal Executive Council had congratulated Tinubu on the successful hosting of the 32nd Nigerian Economic Summit, held in Abuja from 26 to 28 October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima represented the President at the summit, which was co-convened by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group as a platform for dialogue between the public and private sectors.
According to the minister, participants acknowledged the achievements of the Renewed Hope Agenda and called for continuity in the implementation of its programmes.
She said the summit also provided an opportunity to present the National Development Plan 2026–2030, which she said was well received and endorsed by private-sector participants.
Anite-Uzoka described the plan as a statutory framework for achieving a $1 trillion economy through job creation, improved productivity and shared prosperity.
The minister further announced that the council had approved two major policy documents: the Revised National Policy on Food and Nutrition in Nigeria 2026 and the National Nutrition Bill 2026.
She said the documents were developed through collaboration involving the Office of the Vice-President; the ministries of Budget and Economic Planning, Agriculture, Livestock, Education and Health; the National Assembly; the private sector; and development partners.
According to her, the documents are intended to provide a framework for coordinating and implementing food and nutrition programmes, improve the nutritional status of Nigerians and establish sustainable funding arrangements for nationwide interventions.
Anite-Uzoka said the measures were designed to advance human capital development, particularly by reducing child stunting in Nigeria, which she described as a key objective of the Renewed Hope Agenda’s health commitments.
She added that the National Nutrition Bill 2026, as an executive bill, would be transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration.
Also briefing State House correspondents, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, announced that Nigeria had won the right to host CANEX Weekend 2026 and the Intra-African Trade Fair 2027.
She said the hosting bid had received presidential approval in November 2024.
The Intra-African Trade Fair is convened by the African Export-Import Bank in partnership with the African Union Commission and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat.
Oduwole said CANEX Weekend, which focuses on the creative economy, would take place from 5 to 8 November 2026 at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Lagos. The event is expected to attract about 10,000 guests.
She said the programme would cover several areas of the creative economy, including gastronomy, food, fashion, film, performance art and technological innovation.
According to the minister, the events align with Nigeria’s renewed focus on non-oil exports and efforts to maximise opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
She described the gatherings as opportunities for businesses, investors and creative professionals to establish connections and secure commercial deals.
Oduwole invited Nigerians to attend CANEX Weekend from 5 to 8 November 2026 and the Intra-African Trade Fair, scheduled for 5 to 11 November 2027.
The Federal Government has also approved several road construction and rehabilitation projects, with the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announcing the decisions after the FEC meeting.
Umahi outlined nine projects covering different parts of the country, including road construction, reconstruction, dualisation and remedial works.
The projects include:
Okposi–Amasiri Road: Construction of an 18-kilometre stretch from Ishiagu to the Port Harcourt–Enugu Expressway, awarded at ₦20.257 billion.
East-West Road: Remedial works on sections that have sunk below flood level because of the age of the road, at a cost of ₦30 billion.
Bendel–Umuahia–Ohiafa Road, Phase Three: Dualisation of the remaining five-kilometre section after the Abia State Government took over 43 kilometres of the project. The revised contract of ₦11.33 billion was approved in favour of Bolif Nigeria Limited.
Etuke–Ogenyi–Ankpa–Otukpa Road: Reconstruction of a 95-kilometre stretch in Kogi State, awarded to JRB Construction Nigeria Limited at ₦167 billion.
Ado–Ijan–Ilumoba–Ikole Road: Reconstruction of an 81.1-kilometre road, including one bridge, in Ekiti State. The contract was awarded to CBC at ₦209 billion.
Sokoto–Ilela Road, Route A1: Construction and rehabilitation of a 17-kilometre stretch, awarded to Kespeco Global Limited at ₦28.218 billion.
Tongu–Karamti Road: Construction of a 30-kilometre road, including five bridges, across Adamawa and Taraba states. The contract was awarded to WeChina Nigeria Limited at ₦62 billion.
Bichi Ring Road: Construction of a 47-kilometre road, including a flyover, awarded to Laralec at ₦89.2 billion.
Diko–Maje Link to Sule Jamaa Road: Construction of an approximately eight-kilometre road, awarded to MW Resources Limited at ₦14.486 billion.
The combined value of the contracts was reported as more than ₦626.49 billion.
Umahi explained that the Bendel–Umuahia–Ohiafa Road project had originally been funded under the Nigerian Ports Authority tax credit scheme. However, the project was rescoped after the funding arrangement was discontinued, leaving the remaining section for fresh consideration.
Umahi also announced the completion of Lot One of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria highway, describing it as the fastest federal road project in Nigeria’s history.
He said the first lot covered 118 kilometres, of which 81 kilometres had been completed using reinforced concrete pavement within 30 months.
“Council commended Mr President on the completion of Lot One of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria Road, covering 118 kilometres. Effectively, 81 kilometres have been completed using reinforced concrete pavement in only 30 months, the fastest project in the history of this country,” Umahi said.
He added that Lot Two, covering 164 kilometres, was expected to be completed within the following 30 days, with only 16 kilometres remaining.
According to the minister, the entire 375-kilometre dual carriageway extending from Abuja through Kaduna and Zaria to Kano would be equipped with solar streetlights, making it the longest solar-lit route in the country.
The council also took note of developments concerning the Lagos–Abidjan highway corridor, which stretches 1,028 kilometres across five member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Nigeria’s section covers 79 kilometres, running from Tin Can Island in Lagos to the Seme border.
Umahi said a ministerial meeting involving the relevant ECOWAS countries would be held on Friday to advance the project.
He added that the African Development Bank was expected to provide loans to individual member states to finance their respective sections of the corridor.
The project is intended to improve regional road connectivity, facilitate trade and strengthen transport links among countries along the West African coast.
