The Abia State Government has dismissed claims that ₦210 million was earmarked for the purchase of a single photocopier in its 2026 budget, attributing the controversy to a technical error in the Appropriation Law.
The clarification follows widespread public criticism after figures circulating online appeared to suggest an unusually high allocation for office equipment.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry of Budget and Planning explained that budget documents reflect proposed spending estimates and do not automatically result in the release of funds.
It added that the 2026 budget was published on the state’s website on January 31, 2026, in line with its transparency policy.
According to the ministry, the accurate allocations are contained on page 60 of the budget document.
It stated that ₦210,831,142 was approved for the rehabilitation and repair of residential buildings and staff quarters at the Lagos Liaison Office, while ₦12 million was set aside for the procurement of one Sharp photocopier and other sundry office equipment.
The government admitted that a formatting mistake occurred during the final compilation of the voluminous document, particularly on page 289, where a misalignment of figures and descriptions created the impression that ₦250 million was budgeted for a photocopier.
The ministry clarified that the ₦250 million figure actually relates to a separate capital project elsewhere in the budget and was mistakenly placed beside the photocopier item due to the clerical error.
It said the affected agency has since been informed of the correction.
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Emphasising due process, the ministry noted that all procurements must pass through statutory approval channels, including the relevant Tenders Boards, the Finance and General Purpose Committee, and the State Executive Council before any funds can be disbursed.
“There has been no inflation of the cost for the procurement of a photocopier,” the statement said, stressing that the error was purely presentational.
The government expressed regret over the confusion caused and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, fiscal discipline and accountability in managing public resources.