The Abia State Government has attributed an apparent ₦210 million budget allocation for a photocopier in its 2026 Appropriation Bill to a typographical error, officials said on Friday.
The clarification followed public attention on the controversial figure, which appeared in the published budget document.
The state’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, said the line that listed N210,831,142.00 for the purchase of a photocopier for the Lagos Liaison Office was an error and not a planned procurement in that amount. He said the figure was entered wrongly in the budget schedule.
The 2026 Appropriation Bill published by the Abia State Government shows a total annual spending plan of over ₦1 trillion, including capital and recurrent allocations for various sectors and items.
In the detailed breakdown, an item listed under “Total Capital Expenditure” for the Abia State Liaison Office in Lagos included an allocation described as a photocopier valued at ₦210,831,142.00.
Public reactions to the figure emerged on social media and online platforms after the budget was made available.
The apparent sharp increase from about ₦2.5 million allocated for a similar item in the previous year raised questions about budget accuracy and oversight.
In response to the scrutiny, Mr Ekeoma said the state government reviewed the published figures and identified a typographical mistake.
He said the correct allocation for the photocopier was much lower and would be reflected accurately in amended budget documents.
Ekeoma said the typographical error occurred during the final compilation of the budget schedules submitted to the state legislature and later published online.
He said the government would take steps to correct the record to ensure transparency and accuracy in public financial documents.
Budget documents often contain detailed line items for capital and recurrent expenditure proposals. Analysts and civil society groups monitor these figures to assess government priorities and expenditure plans.
Ensuring accurate descriptions and figures is considered essential for public understanding and legislative oversight.
