Imo Records Zero Capital Spending on State University, Polytechnic, Teaching Hospital in First Half of 2026

07th August, 2026 | Nigeria | Budget & Governance

The Imo State Government recorded no capital expenditure on Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, Imo State Polytechnic, Omuma, and the Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH), Orlu, during the first six months of 2026, despite allocating billions of naira to the institutions in the state’s approved budget.

According to the 2026 Second Quarter Budget Performance Report, the three institutions received a combined capital allocation of ₦3 billion for the 2026 fiscal year. However, none of the funds had been spent between January and June.

The report shows that ₦1 billion was budgeted for Imo State University, ₦800 million for Imo State Polytechnic, and ₦1.2 billion for Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu, with all three recording zero capital expenditure during the period under review.

The report also indicated that the University of Innovation, Science and Technology, Omuma, which received a ₦2 billion capital allocation, similarly recorded no expenditure, bringing the total unspent allocation for the three tertiary institutions to ₦3.8 billion by the end of the second quarter.

The institutions fall under the Ministry of Tertiary and Technical Education, which had a total capital budget of ₦36.508 billion for 2026. By the end of June, only ₦1.84 billion had been spent, representing just 5 percent of the ministry’s total capital allocation.

Within the ministry itself, ₦32.708 billion was allocated for capital projects, but only ₦1.84 billion had been utilised, translating to 5.6 percent budget performance.

The health sector also recorded poor implementation. Although Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu, received ₦1.2 billion for capital projects, no expenditure was recorded during the first half of the year.

Similarly, Imo State Specialist Hospital, Umuguma, which was allocated ₦2.1 billion, recorded zero capital expenditure, while the Health Management Board, with an allocation of ₦250 million, also recorded no spending.

Overall, the Ministry of Health received a ₦52.657 billion capital allocation for 2026 but had spent only ₦2.576 billion by the end of June, representing 4.9 percent implementation. The ministry itself recorded just ₦991.849 million in expenditure from its ₦45.307 billion allocation, amounting to 2.2 percent performance.

The Imo State Primary Health Development Agency stood out as the best-performing health institution, recording ₦1.584 billion in capital expenditure against its ₦2.15 billion allocation, representing 73.7 percent implementation.

Beyond education and health, several ministries also recorded little or no capital spending despite receiving substantial allocations.

The Ministry of Water Resources, with ₦46.683 billion, recorded no expenditure during the first six months of the year. The Ministry of Environment and Sanitation, allocated ₦10 billion, also recorded zero spending.

Other ministries with no capital expenditure included the Ministry of Entrepreneurship, Skill Acquisition and Social Responsibilities (₦6.472 billion), the Ministry of Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs (₦15.197 billion), and the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning (₦830 million).

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Housing, Urban Renewal and New Cities Development spent only ₦137.5 million from its ₦10 billion capital allocation, representing just 1.4 percent implementation.

In the social services sector, which had a combined capital allocation of ₦143.614 billion, only ₦5.967 billion had been spent by the end of the second quarter, representing 4.2 percent performance.

The Ministry of Education (Primary and Secondary) recorded ₦1.55 billion in expenditure from its ₦24.115 billion allocation, representing 6.4 percent implementation. However, the ministry itself recorded no capital spending from its ₦17.415 billion allocation, while the Imo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) accounted for the ₦1.55 billion spent against its ₦3.5 billion budget.

The budget performance report suggests that a significant portion of Imo State’s 2026 capital budget remained unimplemented halfway through the fiscal year, particularly in sectors considered critical to education, healthcare and infrastructure development.

In a related development, a review of the state’s approved 2026 budget showed that ₦400 million was allocated for the renovation of the Imo State Governor’s Lodge in Lagos. The budget also earmarked ₦200 million for the purchase of a 650KVA Perkins generator for the State House of Assembly, while an additional ₦30 million was set aside for generator installations at the official residences of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.