Abia State Governor Alex Otti is facing fresh scrutiny from online users after a line item in the state’s 2026 budget appeared to allocate N210 million for the purchase of a single photocopier machine for the Lagos Liaison Office. This comes on the heels of a similar controversy in 2024, when a N1.5 billion allocation for two Toyota Hilux vans was dismissed as an error.
The latest issue surfaced when details from the approved 2026 budget document, published by the state government, showed N210,831,142 budgeted for what was described as the procurement of one Sharp photocopier and other sundry office equipment. However, the Abia State Ministry of Budget and Planning quickly issued a statement attributing the figure to a “technical formatting error” during the final compilation of the document.
According to the ministry, the correct allocation for the photocopier and related equipment is N12 million, while the N210 million is intended for the rehabilitation and repair of residential buildings and staff quarters at the Lagos Liaison Office. “A technical error occurred during the final compilation of the voluminous document. On page 289, a misalignment of text and values took place, which inadvertently flipped the descriptions against the figures,” the statement explained. The ministry emphasized that the error was “clerical and presentational,” with corrections already notified to the relevant agency.
This explanation echoes a previous incident in the 2024 budget, where Governor Otti personally addressed reports of a N1.5 billion allocation for two Hilux vans. Speaking to journalists at the time, Otti clarified that the figure resulted from a software glitch in the Excel package used to prepare the document. “If you use Excel and the formula is not very right on a particular line, you’re bound to have a problem like that. It’s a mistake that has been corrected,” Otti stated, adding that the actual amount was N150 million for two units at N75 million each.
Despite these assurances, netizens on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) have expressed skepticism, accusing the administration of recurring “errors” that raise questions about transparency. One user, @Onsogbu, posted: “You claimed N1.5bn for Toyota Hilux in 2024 Abia State budget was typo error. Same you is claiming N210m for photocopier in 2026 is also a typo. Alex Otti, typo no dey taya you?” Another, @osazenoo, echoed the sentiment: “You claimed N1.5bn for hilux in last years Abia State budget was typo error. Same you is claiming N210m for photocopier in 2026 is also a typo. Alex Otti, typo no dey taya you?”
In a particularly pointed critique, user @AdeHardemola shared screenshots of news articles from both incidents, captioning: “The best money error Governor in Nigeria. Or do you have anyone better than him?” The post garnered significant engagement, with replies like “Lmaooooo. Every year mistake” from @larucheebam and “They know what they are doing” from @dejyne, reflecting widespread doubt among online commentators.
The Abia government has reiterated its commitment to fiscal discipline, noting that all procurements undergo rigorous approval processes, including reviews by tenders boards and the state executive council. As of now, no further official response has been issued regarding the online backlash.
This development highlights ongoing concerns about budgetary accuracy in Nigerian states, with critics arguing that repeated “errors” could undermine public trust in government financial management.