The Abia State Government has attributed the controversial ₦210 million allocation reportedly set aside for the purchase of a photocopier in its 2026 budget to a technical compilation error.
The clarification follows widespread public criticism after the figure appeared in the budget document, sparking concerns about inflated government spending.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the state Ministry of Budget and Planning said the amount was never intended for the procurement of a photocopier. According to the ministry, the figure was mistakenly placed beside the wrong item due to a formatting misalignment during the final preparation of the budget.
Officials explained that the ₦210 million entry actually belongs to a larger capital project elsewhere in the document, while the correct provision for the photocopier and related office equipment remains ₦12 million.
The ministry pointed to page 60 of the budget, where ₦210,831,142 was allocated for the rehabilitation and repair of staff quarters at the Lagos liaison office, and ₦12 million was earmarked for the purchase of one Sharp photocopier alongside other office equipment.
It said the misrepresentation occurred on page 289, where text and figures were inadvertently flipped during compilation of the voluminous budget document.
The government stressed that all procurement processes are subject to statutory approval procedures, including oversight by tenders boards and final clearance by the Finance and General Purpose Committee as well as the State Executive Council.
Describing the issue as purely clerical, the ministry insisted there was no cost inflation involved and apologised for the confusion, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, fiscal discipline, and accountability in public finance management.
