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Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has presented a proposed ₦1.24 trillion budget for the 2027 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly, with 68 per cent of the total expenditure earmarked for capital projects. The proposal places significant emphasis on infrastructure development, education, healthcare, electricity, agriculture and other sectors expected to support economic growth across the state.
The proposed appropriation, valued at ₦1,242,688,970,520.22, is titled the 2027 Budget of Assured Prosperity and Sustainable Growth and Development. It represents an increase of approximately 22 per cent over the state’s 2026 budget and is intended to continue the administration’s investment in projects and public services.
Diri presented the estimates to lawmakers in Yenagoa on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Under the proposal, capital expenditure will receive ₦840.79 billion, representing approximately 68 per cent of the total budget, while recurrent expenditure is pegged at ₦401.90 billion, or about 32 per cent.
The governor said the proposed spending plan was designed to direct more public resources towards infrastructure and development projects that could improve the living conditions of residents. He also stressed the importance of completing ongoing projects, particularly roads and bridges intended to connect communities and improve access to economic opportunities.
The size of the proposed capital allocation makes infrastructure the central feature of the 2027 spending plan. Bayelsa’s riverine geography has historically created challenges for transportation and connectivity, making roads, bridges and coastal access projects important components of the state’s development plans.
The Ministry of Works and Infrastructure received the largest sectoral allocation, with ₦422.84 billion proposed for the ministry. The amount is expected to support road construction, bridge development and other strategic infrastructure projects across Bayelsa.
Education received the second-largest allocation, with ₦126.97 billion earmarked for the sector. The proposed funding is expected to support model schools, tertiary institution accreditation programmes, science and technical education, digital learning facilities and teacher training.
The Ministry of Sports Development was allocated ₦68.50 billion, while the health sector received ₦53.32 billion. Other proposed allocations include ₦24 billion for security, ₦22.94 billion for public utilities and ₦17.74 billion for agriculture.
The allocation to the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure reflects the administration’s intention to prioritise major road and bridge projects. Diri said the government would focus on advancing and completing ongoing construction works, especially the senatorial coastal road projects designed to improve transportation between communities.
Among the infrastructure priorities are projects intended to connect different parts of the state and improve access to coastal communities. Better connectivity could support commercial activities, including fisheries, marine businesses, tourism and other opportunities associated with Bayelsa’s waterways and natural resources.
The governor explained that the proposed projects were not simply about constructing physical structures but also about creating an environment where businesses and residents could benefit from improved transportation and public infrastructure.
Electricity development is another major component of the proposed budget. Diri announced that his administration was targeting an increase in power supply to 100 megawatts in 2027. The plan includes expanding the capacity of the state’s independent power infrastructure, which the government has identified as important for improving electricity availability.
Reliable electricity could support households, businesses, public institutions and industrial activities. For Bayelsa, improved power supply is also expected to complement investments in infrastructure and economic development by helping businesses operate more efficiently.
The governor also identified access to potable water as an important priority for the coming fiscal year. He said the government would begin by focusing on water provision in Yenagoa, the state capital, before extending improvements to other communities.
In the agricultural sector, the administration plans to continue supporting farmers through improved seedlings, fishing inputs and assistance to cooperative groups. Diri said Bayelsa’s land and waterways provide opportunities for the state to strengthen food production and develop its agricultural and fishing industries.
The proposed ₦17.74 billion allocation to agriculture is expected to support activities aimed at improving productivity and encouraging local food production. Access to better agricultural inputs and support for cooperatives could help farmers and fishing communities increase their output, although the impact will depend on how effectively the funds are implemented.
Education is also a significant part of the government’s development priorities. With ₦126.97 billion proposed for the sector, the administration intends to continue improving model schools and supporting accreditation programmes in tertiary institutions.
Diri said the government would strengthen science, technical and vocational education, introduce digital learning tools in secondary schools and provide training opportunities for teachers. These measures are intended to improve educational standards and prepare students for changing employment and economic conditions.
In healthcare, the proposed ₦53.32 billion allocation is expected to support improvements in medical facilities, staffing and service delivery. The governor said his administration would strengthen measures to retain doctors and nurses while improving primary healthcare services across the state.
He placed particular emphasis on maternal and child healthcare, saying improvements should benefit residents in Yenagoa as well as people living in rural communities. Access to healthcare remains an important development issue in areas where geographical conditions can make it difficult for residents to reach medical facilities.
The proposed allocation to sports development is also connected to a major infrastructure project. Diri said the ₦68.50 billion provision would support the completion of the state’s 30,000-capacity stadium before the end of his administration.
The stadium project at Igbogene is expected to strengthen Bayelsa’s sporting infrastructure and support the state’s preparations for major sporting activities. The government has also identified sports development as an opportunity to encourage youth participation and create wider economic activities around sporting events.
The governor’s budget presentation included the economic assumptions used in preparing the 2027 estimates. The proposal is based on an oil price benchmark of $60 per barrel, crude oil production of 1.8 million barrels per day and an exchange rate of ₦1,400 to the United States dollar.
Other assumptions include projected inflation of 18 per cent and economic growth of 3.5 per cent. Diri acknowledged that these figures were planning assumptions and that changes in the international oil market could affect the state’s revenue outlook.
Oil revenue remains an important consideration in Nigeria’s public finances, and fluctuations in production levels and international crude prices can influence the resources available to governments. For Bayelsa, which is an oil-producing state, the assumptions used in the budget will be important during the legislative review and eventual implementation process.
The governor said the estimates were prepared with the risks associated with oil market volatility in mind. The proposed budget will therefore need to be supported by effective revenue management, spending discipline and careful monitoring to ensure that planned projects can be delivered.
Diri described the appropriation as historic because it is the first budget presented as Bayelsa enters its fourth decade since the state’s creation in 1996. He also noted that it would be the final budget to be considered by the current State House of Assembly.
The governor commended lawmakers for their working relationship with the executive arm and urged them to give the proposal the necessary scrutiny. He said timely consideration would help ensure that the Appropriation Law could take effect in January 2027.
Receiving the bill, Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, assured the governor that the legislature would begin consideration of the estimates. He said lawmakers would examine the economic assumptions and proposed allocations to determine whether they were realistic and achievable.
Ingobere also announced that ministries, departments and agencies would be invited to defend their respective budgetary provisions before the Assembly. The exercise is an important part of the budget process because it allows lawmakers to question spending plans, assess priorities and seek explanations from government officials.
The legislative review will determine whether the proposed figures and spending priorities are approved as presented or adjusted before the budget becomes law. Until the Assembly completes its consideration and passes the appropriation bill, the ₦1.24 trillion proposal remains a budget proposal rather than an approved spending plan.
Diri urged political parties and other stakeholders to maintain peace and decorum, stressing the importance of protecting the state’s unity. He said political disagreements should not undermine the cooperation needed to support development and ensure that budgeted projects translate into tangible benefits for residents.
The proposed 2027 budget now places responsibility on both the executive and legislative arms of government to ensure that the spending plan is carefully examined and implemented transparently. While the large capital allocation signals an emphasis on infrastructure, the actual impact will depend on project selection, funding availability, procurement processes and effective supervision.
Residents will be watching to see whether the proposed investments lead to completed roads and bridges, more reliable electricity, improved schools, stronger healthcare services and better access to clean water. The government’s ability to deliver these projects will be an important measure of the budget’s success.
For now, Governor Douye Diri’s ₦1.24 trillion proposal sets out Bayelsa’s spending priorities for 2027, with infrastructure receiving the largest share of resources. The next stage is legislative scrutiny, after which the final appropriation law will determine how the state’s resources are allocated in the coming fiscal year.
