CHUKWUEBUKA OHIZU
The 2025 Budgets of the five South-Eastern States of Nigeria have been described as major routes for the development if properly implemented.
Chief Emeka Emenyeonu, an Igbo leader who made the statement while addressing newsmen in Aba, Abia State said that it is amazing seeing the Budgets of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo State jointly rising to over Three-Billion (3billion naira.)
According to Chief Emenyeonu, a Governorship Aspirant during the 2023 election in Imo State, the 2025 budgets of the five South-East States, Ebonyi: ₦N396, Anambra: ₦607, Enugu: ₦971, Abia: ₦750 and Imo: ₦N807 billion are a huge improvement from the 2024 budgets; Ebonyi: ₦202 billion, Anambra: ₦410 billion, Enugu: ₦567 billion, Abia: ₦521 billion and Imo: ₦592 billion.
Chief Emenyeonu said that although each of the states already have their plans mapped out in their budgets, it will be very laudable to see them carry joint projects with regional status.
He said that he had taken a good look at Governor Peter Mbah’s budget, which he tagged “Budget of Exponential Growth and Inclusive Prosperity,” which amounts to N971 billion as transformative.
“I’ve made my findings and Mbah said that the 2025 Enugu budget reflects his government’s commitment to transforming Enugu into a hub of opportunities where no one is left behind.
“That’s good to hear. When I saw that N837.9 billion representing 86% allocated to capital expenditure, and N133.1 billion (14%) for recurrent expenditure, if properly implemented, Enugu should be up there among the best states.
“For me, I believe if Enugu can just do 70% of what’s in the budget, they’ll be laying the foundation for sustainable development across all sectors.
“With Enugu State giving N320.6 billion (over 33%) to education, such moves are laudable and underscores the belief of the Governor that eradicating poverty begins with empowering the mind, according to him. So, it’s a good one.”
Chief Emenyeonu said that it was equally good to see Abia State Governor Alex Otti sign into law a budget of Seven Hundred and Fifty Billion, Two Hundred and Eighty-Two Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (750,282, 200,000) for the 2025 fiscal year.
He said that it is worth taking a proper look into what the government will do with such a huge improvement in Abia State, because the feeling everywhere is that the new budget will give Abia State government the impetus to continue to deliver on its promises to Abians.
“Nobody will do the monitoring for the Abia people. It’s their duty. It’s the duty of various media houses. It’s the duty of the Civil Society Organizations in Abia to keep vigil over this money.
“The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia Chapter needs to look into this and I urge the people in Enugu to do the same. With the amount I see here, Abia will stand firm in the league of states if 70% of the budget is implemented.”
Chief Emenyeonu who said that when Governor Otti described the 2025 budget as a budget of sustained momentum, it shows he has plans to continue with whatever achievements he must have made, but urged all Abia people to stay awake.
According to him, “When we say sustained momentum, we know that we have taken off, and the challenge is to continue because the easiest thing to do is to speed up and speed up.”
The Igbo leader said that having allocated 82% of the entire budget to capital expenditures, it shows that the Abia budget has plans for rapid infrastructural development.
He said that it was surprising but equally remarkable to see the Imo State House of Assembly raise the state’s 2025 budget from N755B to N807B, stressing that such moves show harmony among the two arms of government and called for proper implementation.
Chief Emenyeonu hailed the government of Imo State for allocating huge chunk of the budget to capital expenditure in 2025 to the tone of Six Hundred and Ninety-Four Billion, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Six Million, Forty-One Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty Naira (N694,786,041,220) or 86.09 per cent of the total sum.
“It’s equally good that recurrent expenditure which stands at One Hundred and Twelve Billion, Three Hundred and Two Million Naira (N112,302,000,000) of 13.91 percent was approved. That shows there are strong developmental plans.
“What impressed me most is that the Ministry of Works and Infrastructural Development got N297,509,312,778 or 42.8% of the budget. Everyone knows that the current government in Imo State is doing a lot to tackle poor road infrastructure in the state, which is our biggest worry. So, I’m happy to see it being sustained and I still call on the people to be watchful and ensure we all smile at the end.
“Another good move is to give the Ministry of Transport, N101,010,000,000 or 14.5%. I personally expect huge improvement from this ministry because of this huge amount.
“I don’t know what will happen, but we all must keep watching because it holds huge promise. As for the Ministry of Power and Electrification that got N74,755,479,042 or 10.8%, that’s very interesting.
“We all know about the Egbema Power Plant Project and the Orashi Electricity Company of Imo State and the New Imo State Electricity Laws, so I’m expecting the Commissioner, Engineer Nwabueze Oguchienti and his workers to perform the needed magic in that sector while our people keep their eyes very open.
“Well, I learnt the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security was allocated N50,020,000,000 or 7.2% of the budget, the Ministry of Education, N49,460,000,000 or 7.1% while the Ministry of Health gets N31,933,234,000 or 4.65%.
“My main word is for all Imolites to support, report and be part of the success history of our dear budget. Nobody should sit on the fence. Ask questions, but don’t fabricate answers. We need to work and seek the truth always.”

Chief Emenyeonu equally said that the N607 billion 2025 Appropriation Bill of Anambra State themed “Changing Gears 2.0”, is a huge move by Prof Chukwuma Soludo.
“I learnt Governor Soludo is prioritizing 5 pillars of development namely security, law and Order; Human capital and social agenda; Environment; Governance and Value System; Infrastructure and Economic Transformation. This is good. I like it.”
Chief Emenyeonu said that with over 45% increase from the 2024 budget, the 2925 Anambra State budget is seen to prioritize infrastructure, economic transformation, human capital development, and social welfare with a total of 77% (N467.5 billion) allocated to capital expenditure, while 23% (N139.5 billion) goes to recurrent expenditure.
“Soludo said that the budget is a testament to his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and people-centered leadership. He said that he is confident that it will drive sustainable growth and development in the Anambra State. Well, I love what I’m hearing, however I call on our people to follow things up.
Chief Emenyeonu said that the “BUDGET OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT” of Governor Ogbonnaya Nwaifuru worth ₦396,589,009,620.00 is a welcome development.
He said that having seen former Governor Dave Umahi do much on road infrastructure with so many bridges and flyovers; it is good to hear Nwaifuru say that the 2025 budget are fully prepared to guarantee industrialization, improved standard of living and overall economic growth of Ebonyi State.

The Imo born Igbo leader urged the people of South-East to develop the culture of being part of governance in their state to enable them know where to place blames and praises appropriately; and not what he termed usual misdirection of blames to the wrong quarters.
“It is not all the problems we face today as a people that are caused by the federal government. Some are errors of the state, local governments and the terrible attitude of the citizens.
“I believe in constructive criticism, but suddenly in the South-East, people just criticize because they heard one or two people throwing criticism without finding out the interest of such people.
“Our people also praise some political office holders wrongly just because other people indirectly manipulated them through social media lies and propaganda to do so.
“The South-East must develop both our political culture and level of media literacy to avoid us often falling prey of manipulative communications.”
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