The Edo State House of Assembly has approved a revised budget for the 2025 fiscal year, increasing the initially proposed N605 billion to N676 billion, with a special focus on addressing food insecurity in the state.
The state’s governor, Monday Okpebholo, had initially presented a budget of N605 billion to the Assembly on December 10, 2024. However, following deliberations, the lawmakers raised the budget by over N71 billion, bringing the total to N676 billion. The increase primarily targets the agricultural sector, with an additional allocation aimed at combating the growing food insecurity across the country.
Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, explained that the decision to raise the budget was driven by the urgent need to ensure food sufficiency in the state. He noted that the current allocation for agriculture in the governor’s proposal was N4.5 billion, which the Assembly deemed insufficient in light of the ongoing food crisis in Nigeria.
“We carefully analyzed the budget and, given the severe food insecurity issues plaguing the country, we decided to allocate additional funds to the agricultural sector to ensure food sufficiency in Edo State,” Agbebaku stated. “The House agreed that this significant increase is crucial to address the pressing food challenges facing the country and create sustainable solutions.”
Governor Okpebholo, in his remarks, expressed his administration’s commitment to tackling the food insecurity crisis. He emphasized that the enhanced allocation of N70 billion to agriculture aligns with his government’s focus on an agricultural revolution. “The significant boost to the agriculture sector underscores our dedication to food security and the economic revival of Edo State,” Okpebholo said.
The governor further reiterated plans to initiate large-scale mechanized farming across the three senatorial districts of Edo State in early 2025, with the aim of making the state self-sufficient in food production. Okpebholo also highlighted that the state’s agricultural potential would not only ensure local food security but could also position Edo to export agricultural products to neighboring states.
The revised 2025 budget is expected to foster infrastructure development across all constituencies in Edo State while addressing the food production shortfall currently affecting the nation. With a renewed focus on agriculture, the state government aims to lead the charge in mitigating the food crisis and reviving Edo’s economy through agricultural innovation.
Comments