₦210m for One Photocopier? Abia’s 2026 Budget Line That Has People Talking

 The Abia State Government, under Governor Alex Otti, has come under fresh scrutiny following revelations in the state’s 2026 approved budget showing plans to spend over ₦210 million on the purchase of a single photocopier for its Lagos liaison office.

A review of the 2026 budget by SaharaReporters indicates that ₦210,831,142 was earmarked specifically for the procurement of one photocopying machine for the Abia State Liaison Office in Lagos. The item appears under Total Capital Expenditure, within the Reform for Government and Governance heading.

Governor Otti assented to the ₦1.016 trillion (₦1,016,228,072,651.99) 2026 Appropriation Bill in December 2025.

What has further raised eyebrows is the sharp increase in cost. In the 2025 budget, only ₦2.5 million was allocated for the same item. The justification for the over ₦208 million jump within a year was not provided in the budget document.

Beyond the photocopier allocation, other expenditure lines in the budget have also drawn attention. A further review shows that ₦287 million was earmarked for publicity on social media and radio under the Abia Policy Innovation Centre.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that within just three months in 2023, the Otti-led administration spent about ₦927 million on refreshments, meals, honorarium payments, allowances, and welfare packages for government officials. During the same period, approximately ₦737.9 million was reportedly spent on vehicle purchases, with no details on the number of vehicles or their designated beneficiaries.

According to a budget performance document obtained by the outlet, between July and September 2023, the government spent ₦223.3 million on refreshments and meals, ₦305.4 million on honorarium and sitting allowances, and ₦397.5 million on welfare packages. 

Additional expenditures included ₦362.8 million on trucks, ₦400.9 million on buses, and ₦252.4 million to run the Deputy Governor’s office over three months.

In contrast, only ₦25 million was reportedly spent on the repair of public schools across the state during the same period, despite widespread reports of dilapidated classrooms, leaking roofs, broken furniture, and aging infrastructure across Abia’s 17 local government areas.

The budget figures have since sparked conversations online, with many Nigerians questioning government spending priorities amid persistent challenges in education and public infrastructure.

SOURCE : SaharaReporters