Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has addressed the controversy surrounding the allocation of N1.5 billion for the purchase of two Hilux vans in the state’s budget, attributing the error to a software glitch within the Excel package used for budget preparation.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Otti clarified that the inflated figure stemmed from a miscalculation generated by the Excel software.
The governor, during a visit to Eziukwu Road Market in Aba to console traders affected by a recent fire incident, emphasized that upon noticing the discrepancy, he promptly investigated the matter.
“When I saw that report, I knew something was wrong. I knew it could either be the units or the price. So, I called the Commissioner for Budget and Planning and asked him to check it out and call me back. He did and reported that it was neither the units nor the price that was wrong but the Excel,” Otti explained.
Assuring the public that the mistake had been rectified, Otti reiterated, “I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. The overall numbers are correct and the figure of N1.5 billion was N150 million; two units of Hilux vans at N75 million each will give you N150 million, that’s the correct number.”
