By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
SUBSTANTIAL BUDGET approval by Nigeria’s lawmakers has paved the way for accelerated infrastructure and social development across the Federal Capital Territory, with both legislative chambers passing the ₦1.81 trillion 2025 FCT Statutory Appropriation Bill.
Following earlier transmission of the proposal by President Bola Tinubu on May 14, the House of Representatives passed the bill during plenary after it scaled the third reading.
The Senate followed with a harmonised adoption on Wednesday, approving the total expenditure for the fiscal year.
The passage was guided by the joint committee report presented by Senator Mohammed Ibrahim, harmonising input from both chambers under the constitutional framework of Sections 62, 80, 88, 89, and 299 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The approved fiscal plan reflects an aggressive capital-intensive structure.
Out of the ₦1.81 trillion, a record ₦1.31 trillion—72.31 percent—is earmarked for capital projects, while recurrent expenditure totals ₦502.38 billion, including ₦150.35 billion for personnel and ₦352.03 billion for overheads.
The breakdown reflects a continued focus on tangible development as Nigeria’s capital grapples with mounting demands for infrastructure, services, and security.
Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, who defended the budget at both chambers, stated that critical roads and public works projects will be delivered across districts and satellite towns through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD).
Projects include the Northern Parkway between Ring Roads II and III, Arterial Road N20 from Arterial Road N5, and the full development of Arterial Road N1 from Wuye District to Ring Road II.
Other listed works span Guzape, Maitama, and Wuye, as well as the dualisation of the Kuje–Gwagwalada Road, Pai–Gomani Road in Kwali Area Council, and the Ushafa War College road near the army checkpoint.
The spending plan, Wike noted, was crafted in close collaboration with FCTA officials after extensive consultations. It is expected to advance Abuja’s infrastructural profile and address persistent service delivery gaps.
Concerns raised during the Senate defence included rising insecurity and the overstretched healthcare system.
Wike called for an urgent, coordinated national response to reinforce the FCT’s security architecture, citing Abuja’s status as both a diplomatic hub and the nation’s capital.
To bolster healthcare delivery, Wike revealed recent investments in modern diagnostic equipment across FCT health facilities, describing it as a vital component of broader reforms aimed at expanding access to quality care.
As the 2025 fiscal year commences, authorities are expected to prioritise execution to match the scale of allocations and ensure visible progress across the territory’s urban and peri-urban zones.
