Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has explained that a ₦1 billion provision allocated in the 2026 Appropriation Bill for musical gear in churches within the Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State is actually meant for a broader youth engagement initiative, rather than just buying instruments.
This explanation comes in response to recent media coverage implying that the money was set aside exclusively for musical hardware, with certain constituents complaining that they never received the items and raising concerns about possible misuse of public funds.
In a press release published on Wednesday, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, labeled those media accounts as an incorrect depiction of the project’s real purpose and scale.
According to the statement, the true sum after deductions for Value-Added Tax and other expenses stands at ₦780 million. The money is formally categorized as a “Youth Re-orientation and Social Support Programme” that faith-based organizations will implement through evangelistic methods.
The office of the Deputy Speaker pointed out that the Bende Federal Constituency consists of 13 electoral and political wards alongside more than 200 churches. Initial plans for the project will focus on 130 churches, giving each an estimated support package of ₦5 million to ₦6 million.
The funds are designed to assist these religious institutions in expanding platforms dedicated to moral transformation and community outreach. This includes purchasing evangelical gear and public address systems to boost campaigns against social issues like drug abuse, sexual offenses, and violent crime.
