Kalu Clarifies N780m Allocation for Church Outreach

Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, addressed reports claiming that his office allocated N1 billion in the 2026 budget for musical instruments for churches in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State. He clarified that the actual allocation is N780 million, intended for a youth re-orientation and social support program through faith-based organizations.

This budget, after Value Added Tax and other deductions, will support the purchase of evangelical instruments and public address systems to combat social vices such as narcotics and violent crimes. Kalu noted that Bende has 13 electoral wards and over 200 churches, with the first phase of the program targeting 130 churches, averaging N5 million to N6 million per church.

He emphasized that the initiative aims to strengthen youth engagement platforms in churches and promote moral values. Kalu also mentioned that the 2026 budget has not yet been implemented and that a corrigendum is being initiated to correct a technical error in the procurement description.