Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has clarified that his office allocated N780 million, not N1 billion, in the 2026 budget to support churches with evangelical instruments and public address systems as part of a broader youth re-orientation and social intervention programme in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State.

In a statement issued on Wednesday through his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu dismissed reports suggesting that N1 billion had been earmarked solely for the procurement of musical instruments for churches, describing the reports as inaccurate and misleading.

According to him, the actual budgetary provision, after Value Added Tax (VAT) and other statutory deductions, stands at N780 million.

"The funds are intended to support the purchase of evangelical instruments and public address systems to promote campaigns against vices like the spread of narcotics, sexual offences, and violent crimes while instilling discipline, values, peace and character development among young people in the communities," the statement read.

Kalu explained that the intervention was designed to strengthen youth engagement initiatives already being carried out by churches and other faith-based organisations across the constituency.

He disclosed that Bende Federal Constituency comprises 13 electoral wards and more than 200 churches, adding that the first phase of the programme would benefit 130 churches, averaging about 10 churches in each ward.

"Bende has 13 federal political/electoral wards and over 200 churches. The first phase of this support targets 130 of these churches, averaging about 10 churches per ward, which amounts to approximately N5 million to N6 million per church," he said.

The Deputy Speaker stressed that the intervention should not be viewed merely as the procurement of musical equipment but as an investment in community-based structures that promote moral values and discourage anti-social behaviour among young people.

"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 stated.

He also noted that implementation of the 2026 budget had yet to commence, assuring that beneficiary churches would be notified after the procurement process is concluded.

Kalu further revealed that his office had initiated a corrigendum to correct what it described as a technical error in the procurement description before implementation.

He urged the public and the media to disregard reports claiming that N1 billion had been allocated solely for church musical instruments.

He insisted that the N780 million allocation is part of a comprehensive youth development and community values programme aimed at tackling social vices through faith-based institutions.