Abia Government Clarifies N210M ‘Photocopier’ Budget Error, Confirms Only N12M Approved
The Abia State Government has clarified reports regarding the alleged allocation of N210 million for a single photocopier in its 2026 budget, attributing the figure to a clerical error. According to officials, only N12 million has been formally approved for procurement and associated expenses. The issue came to public attention following media reports suggesting that a single photocopier was set to receive an astronomical budgetary allocation, prompting widespread outrage and criticism from stakeholders, civil society groups, and citizens alike. The government, however, emphasized that the N210 million figure was incorrect and did not reflect the approved financial plan. In an official statement, the Ministry of Finance explained that the discrepancy arose during the transcription of figures in the draft budget documents. The clerical error resulted in the misreporting of the photocopier allocation, which was meant to cover the purchase of multiple office equipment and associated ...