The Abia State Ministry of Budget and Planning has attempted to quash public outrage over controversial budget figures connected to the Lagos Liaison Office, insisting there was no inflation of costs and blaming the confusion on a technical formatting error in the 2026 Appropriation Law.
In a statement issued on February 7, 2026, the Ministry said misleading interpretations of certain line items had generated unnecessary controversy, stressing that the authentic and correct figures were already clearly stated in the published budget.
“The attention of the Abia State Ministry of Budget and Planning has been drawn to commentaries regarding specific line items for the Lagos Liaison Office in the published 2026 Fiscal Year Budget. We wish to state the following verifiable facts for the records and the enlightenment of the public,” the Ministry said.
It explained that the 2026 budget was officially published on the Ministry’s website on January 31, 2026, as part of its transparency drive. According to the Ministry, the accurate allocations appear on page 60 of the document.
“On Page 60 of the said document, the correct and intended provisions are clearly stated as follows: N210,831,142.00 was provided for the ‘rehabilitation/repair of residential building/staff quarters for Lagos liaison office.’ N12,000,000.00 was provided for the ‘procurement of 1 Sharp copier etc, etc being every other sundry equipment for the liaison office.’”
Addressing the controversial N250,000,000 figure that triggered public backlash, the Ministry admitted that a technical glitch occurred during the final compilation of the voluminous budget document.
“A technical error occurred during the final compilation of the voluminous document. On Page 289, a misalignment of text and values took place, which inadvertently flipped the descriptions against the figures. This presented an incorrect reading. The relevant Agency has since been notifed of the correction.”
The Ministry categorically dismissed claims that ₦250 million was earmarked for a copier, clarifying that the figure belongs to an entirely different capital project.
“The N250,000,000.00 figure that appeared beside the copier item on Page 289 is not the provision for a copier. It is, in fact, the value for a different, larger capital project elsewhere in the budget, which was displaced by the formatting error. The budget for the copier and sundry office equipment remains N12,000,000.00 as correctly stated on Page 60.”
Emphasising that no cost padding occurred, the Ministry stated: “We categorically state that there has been no inflation of the cost for the procurement of a copier. The error was purely clerical and presentational.”
The Ministry also used the opportunity to educate the public on how government budgets work, noting that figures in the budget are merely estimates and spending intentions.
“The published budget contains estimates and intentions. It is a planning document that authorizes spending up to specified limits. No funds can be disbursed for any procurement based solely on these estimates.”
It added that all procurements must pass through strict statutory approval channels before any money is released.
“Every procurement in the Abia State Government must, by law and financial regulations, pass through rigorous approval processes. These mandatory guardrails include: Scrutiny and approval by the Departmental Tenders Board. Further review and approval by the Ministerial Tenders Board. Final approval and due process certification by the Finance and General Purpose Committee (F&GPC) and the State Executive Council.”
According to the Ministry, these safeguards exist to block waste, enforce value-for-money, and protect public funds.
“These layers of scrutiny are designed specifically to ensure fiscal responsibility, value-for-money, and the transparent use of taxpayers’ funds. Any procurement that does not justify its cost or follow due process will not be approved, regardless of the initial budgetary provision.”
While expressing regret over the confusion sparked by the formatting error, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to open governance and accountability.
“The Ministry regrets the confusion caused by the formatting misalignment and assures the public that our commitment to transparency remains unwavering. We encourage citizens to always have confidence in the established financial control systems that govern all our expenditures. This administration remains committed to trasparent budgeting and prudent use of public funds and welcomes public scutiny as part of its established accountability structure.”
The statement was signed by the Abia State Ministry of Budget and Planning and dated February 7, 2026.
