My office allocated N780m, not N1bn, for church outreach - Kalu

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu has refuted reports claiming his office allocated N1 billion for musical instruments for churches in his Bende Federal Constituency. Kalu stated the actual budget provision is N780 million after deductions, intended for a youth re-orientation and social support program implemented via faith-based organizations.

The funds aim to procure evangelical instruments and public address systems. These will be used to promote campaigns against narcotics, sexual offenses, and violent crimes. The program also seeks to instill discipline, values, peace, and character development among the constituency's youth.

Kalu explained that the Bende Federal Constituency has over 200 churches across 13 wards. The initial phase will support 130 churches, averaging about N5 million to N6 million per church. He emphasized that this intervention strengthens existing youth engagement platforms run by churches to promote moral values and discourage social vices.

"This intervention is not about instruments alone. It is about leveraging trusted community value-sustaining structures to reorient our youths, promote unity and sustain moral instruction across the constituency," Kalu said. He added that the 2026 budget is not yet implemented and beneficiary churches will be informed after procurement. His office initiated a corrigendum to correct a technical error in the procurement description.

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This intervention is not about instruments alone. It is about leveraging trusted community value-sustaining structures to reorient our youths, promote unity and sustain moral instruction across the constituency.