The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has addressed public criticism surrounding a N1 billion provision in the 2026 national budget, maintaining that the funds are designated for youth empowerment and community security initiatives in Bende, Abia State.
​Speaking through a press release issued in Abuja on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, Kalu’s spokesperson, Levinus Nwabughiogu, refuted allegations of fiscal recklessness. The office clarified that the funds will be channeled through local religious institutions to combat rising youth restiveness and drug dependency across the constituency.
Statutory deductions, including taxes and administrative charges, reduce the executable budget from N1 billion to N780 million. The initiative covers 130 local churches, with each center receiving equipment and project support worth roughly N6 million.
The procurement goes beyond musical gear to include public address systems aimed at supporting anti-crime campaigns, drug abuse sensitization, and youth re-orientation programs.
Officials acknowledged a clerical error in the line-item description and confirmed a letter of corrigendum has been submitted to the Appropriations Committee to reflect the actual scope before any funds are disbursed.
​”Faith-based platforms remain the most effective vehicle for moral re-engineering and reaching at-risk youth in Bende,” the statement read, adding that the procurement process is adhering strictly to public procurement laws.
