Governor lames Clerical Error For N210Million Allocation For ‘One Photocopier’ In 2026 Budget, Says Only N12Million Approved
Governor lames Clerical Error For N210Million Allocation For ‘One Photocopier’ In 2026 Budget, Says Only N12Million Approved
The government’s response followed a SaharaReporters investigation which reported that the Abia State Government planned to spend over N210 million on a photocopier for its Lagos office, based on figures contained in the published 2026 budget document.
The Abia State Government has denied claims that it earmarked N210 million for the purchase of a single photocopier for its Lagos Liaison Office, describing the allegation as a misrepresentation caused by a clerical error in the 2026 Appropriation Law.
The government’s response followed a SaharaReporters investigation which reported that the Abia State Government planned to spend over N210 million on a photocopier for its Lagos office, based on figures contained in the published 2026 budget document.
In a statement issued on February 7, 2026, the Abia State Ministry of Budget and Planning, said the controversy arose from a “technical formatting error” during the final compilation of the budget, which led to the misalignment of project descriptions and their corresponding figures in one section of the document.
According to the Ministry, the 2026 budget was published on its official website on January 31, 2026, in line with its transparency policy and commitment to public access to fiscal information.
The Ministry explained that the “correct budgetary provisions” for the Lagos Liaison Office are clearly stated on “Page 60” of the budget document.
It said “N210,831,142” was appropriated for the “rehabilitation and repair of residential buildings and staff quarters” at the Lagos Liaison Office, while “N12 million” was budgeted for the “procurement of one Sharp photocopier and other sundry office equipment”.
However, the Ministry admitted that on “Page 289” of the budget document, a misalignment error occurred which erroneously placed a “N250 million” figure beside the copier item, creating the impression that the amount was meant for the purchase of office equipment.
“The N250,000,000 figure that appeared beside the copier item on Page 289 is not the provision for a copier,” the Ministry said, adding that the amount actually belongs to “a different, larger capital project elsewhere in the budget” that was displaced during formatting.
The Ministry stressed that “there was no inflation of the cost of procuring a photocopier”, insisting that the approved estimate for the item remains “N12 million”, as correctly reflected elsewhere in the budget.
Beyond the specific clarification, the Ministry used the opportunity to explain the “budgeting and procurement process” in Abia State, noting that budgetary provisions are merely spending authorisations and do not translate to automatic fund release.
According to the statement, all procurements must undergo multiple layers of statutory scrutiny, including review by the “Departmental Tenders Board”, approval by the “Ministerial Tenders Board”, and final clearance by the “Finance and General Purpose Committee (F&GPC)” and the “State Executive Council”.
“These layers of scrutiny are designed specifically to ensure fiscal responsibility, value for money, and transparency in the use of public funds,” the Ministry said, adding that any procurement that fails due process or cost justification would not be approved regardless of its appearance in the budget.
While expressing regret over the confusion generated by the formatting error, the Ministry maintained that the administration remains committed to transparent budgeting and prudent management of public resources.
“The error was purely clerical and presentational,” the statement said, assuring the public that established financial control systems remain firmly in place.
Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor of Abia State, posted the clarification on his Facebook page on Saturday evening.
