By Tony Oraeki, Awka

Anambra state governor Charles Soludo of Anambra on Thursday presented a revised draft budget of N170 billion for 2022 to the state House of Assembly for approval.

The state Assembly had on Dec.9, 2021, passed the 2022 Appropriation Bill of N141.9 billion, presented by the immediate past governor, Dr Willie Obiano, for approval.

Soludo, said the purpose of the 2022 Revised budget was to reflect current realities, challenges, priorities of the new administration and the dire needs of residents in Anambra.

He said that the budget was made up of N108 billion capital expenditure, accounting for 64 per cent compared with 57 per cent in the previous budget.

Nigerian Pilot reports that considering the high rate of road dilapidation in the state, governor Soludo said he is declaring a state of emergency on roads and has therefore budgeted the sum of 52 Billion for road construction in the 2022 budget.

Soludo also said that the N52 billion representing about 31% of the total budget of N170 billion proposed for 2022 budget would be invested simultaneously in most of the local governments roads and paying special attention to the urban regeneration agenda.

Governor Soludo announced this yesterday in Awka during his presentation of #170 billion budget size of the revised 2022 budget before the state legislators at the House of Assembly Chambers, which was tagged: “Taking Off from the Blocks”.

He said the state government has requested the Federal Government to kindly intervene on emergency basis on a number of federal roads in the state that have become nightmarish death traps.

” We confidently expect their urgent responsive action. But in the event that the expected response does not come soon, we may have to implement urgent palliatives in some places especially at Amansea; Ekwulobia- Igboukwu- Nnobi road; Ogidi; etc where the roads are literally cutting off.” Soludo noted.

According to him, ” Capital expenditure increased by 33% from N81 billion to N108 billion while Recurrent expenditure increased marginally by 0.79% from N60 billion. We left the budget on security unchanged while we count on off budget resources from donations to augment.

“As a reflection of our Agenda, about 60% of the Capital Expenditure is targeted at delivering infrastructure that the average citizen can feel, see, use or touch and which have the highest developmental impact within the shortest possible time.” He stated.