UMUAHIA, Nigeria, July 22 (African News Digest) – The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has rejected reports that N1 billion was allocated in the 2026 budget solely to purchase musical instruments for churches in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the Deputy Speaker’s office said the reports misrepresented the purpose of the budgetary provision.
According to the statement, the actual allocation is N780 million after VAT and other tax deductions and is intended for a youth re-orientation and social support programme to be implemented through faith-based organisations in Bende Federal Constituency.
Kalu’s office said Bende has 13 electoral wards and more than 200 churches, with the first phase of the programme targeting 130 churches, an average of about 10 churches per ward.
Each selected church is expected to receive between N5 million and N6 million to support youth engagement and community outreach initiatives, the statement said.
The funds, according to the Deputy Speaker’s office, would be used to procure evangelical instruments and public address systems for campaigns against drug abuse, sexual offences and violent crimes, while promoting discipline, peace, moral values and character development among young people.
The office argued that nation-building requires more than physical infrastructure, stressing that investment in value reorientation is also necessary. It described the initiative as part of a non-kinetic approach to promoting peace, unity and social development.
It added that traditional institutions had benefited from similar interventions, including town halls and community engagement centres, and argued that faith-based organisations also have an important role in promoting societal values.
The statement further clarified that the 2026 budget has not yet been implemented or funded. It said the selected churches would only be notified after the procurement process is completed.
Kalu’s office also disclosed that a technical error had been identified in the procurement description and that a letter of corrigendum had been initiated to allow the Budget Office and the appropriation committee to make the necessary correction before implementation.
The Deputy Speaker’s office urged the media and the public to disregard what it described as sensational reports, insisting that the programme is primarily focused on youth re-orientation, community development and moral instruction.
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