Bende Needs Hospitals, Roads, Schools Before Church Gadgets, Group Tells Kalu Over ₦1bn Allocation

The Abia Coalition for Equity and Justice (ACJE) has questioned the prioritisation of a ₦1 billion allocation for “musical and cultural equipment for churches in Bende Local Government Area” under the 2026 Federal Budget, calling for full disclosure on the implementation process.

The group, in a statement issued on Monday, acknowledged the efforts of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, in attracting federal projects to Bende Federal Constituency, but expressed concern over what it described as a questionable allocation of resources.

The project, with budget code ERGP20273981, was reportedly facilitated through the intervention of Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

According to budget details obtained through civic-tech platform Tracka and reviewed by SaharaReporters, the ₦1 billion provision forms part of the Federal Government’s nationwide allocation of ₦8.05 billion for the construction, renovation and equipping of churches and mosques.

ACJE said while support for religious institutions is important, government interventions should primarily address critical challenges affecting the wider population.

“We acknowledge the effort of Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu to attract projects to Bende.

However, ₦1 billion for musical and cultural equipment for churches alone raises serious questions about priorities and value for money,” the group stated.

The coalition noted that Bende continues to face pressing developmental challenges, including poor rural roads, inadequate healthcare facilities, unemployment among youths, and poorly equipped schools.

The group argued that the same amount could have been deployed to improve basic infrastructure across the constituency.

“With ₦1 billion, government can equip primary healthcare centres, renovate schools, provide water projects, and create interventions that will directly impact families across Bende,” ACJE said.

The group called on the Office of the Deputy Speaker to make public the details of the project, including the procurement process, implementation strategy, and criteria for selecting beneficiaries.

It raised key questions on:
The specific musical and cultural equipment to be purchased and their unit costs;

The churches expected to benefit across the 13 wards of Bende LGA;
The agency responsible for executing the project;

The timeline for delivery, monitoring, and evaluation.

“The people of Bende deserve facts, not slogans. If this money must be spent, the process should be open and transparent to prevent waste or political patronage,” the group stated.

As of press time, the office of the Deputy Speaker had not issued any official response to the concerns raised by ACJE.

The coalition, however, stressed that its position was not opposition to supporting faith-based institutions but a call for balanced development.

“We are not against supporting churches. But leadership requires balance. Investments should lift the entire community through improved healthcare, education, employment opportunities, and infrastructure,” ACJE added.

The group urged stakeholders in Bende to continue constructive engagement to ensure that government allocations translate into meaningful development for residents.