Abia Budget Ministry Explains Mix-Up in Lagos Liaison Office Allocations, Denies Copier Cost Inflation

The Abia State Ministry of Budget and Planning has issued an official clarification following public reactions to figures listed for the Lagos Liaison Office in the 2026 appropriation document. The ministry said misunderstandings arose from a layout error in the published budget and not from inflated spending plans.

Officials explained that the full budget was released online at the end of January to promote openness and public review. Within the document, the approved sums for renovation of staff quarters and purchase of office equipment for the Lagos Liaison Office were properly stated in the main project schedule.

According to the ministry, a formatting problem in another section of the document caused project descriptions and figures to appear beside the wrong items. This created the false impression that an unusually large amount was earmarked for the purchase of a copier, whereas the actual allocation for office machines and related items is far lower. The affected agency has been notified and corrections acknowledged.

The ministry stressed that budget figures are spending ceilings, not automatic payments, and that every purchase must pass multiple approval stages before funds can be released. It added that tender boards and executive oversight bodies review all procurements to ensure compliance, cost reasonableness, and accountability, reaffirming its commitment to transparent financial management.