Nasarawa Govt Denies Spending ₦707 Million On Refreshments

The Nasarawa State Government has dismissed a report alleging that it spent ₦707 million on refreshments and meals between January and September 2025 while underfunding rural water supply projects.

The government clarified that the ₦707 million figure referenced in the report did not represent a single or discretionary spending item on refreshments, but the cumulative expenditure of several Ministries, Departments and Agencies over a nine-month period.

The publication had claimed that a review of the state’s third-quarter 2025 budget performance showed that ₦707 million was spent on refreshments and meals during the period, compared to ₦300.5 million allocated to capital projects by the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency.

The comparison sparked public criticism and allegations of misplaced priorities by the state government.

Reacting to the report, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, Mr Peter Ahemba, described the allegations as inaccurate and not supported by facts.

According to Ahemba, the expenditure cited covered legitimate operational and statutory activities across multiple MDAs.

“The amount referenced represents cumulative spending by several MDAs over nine months on legitimate activities such as meetings, trainings, workshops, security operations and programme implementation,” he said.

He added that the spending was wrongly portrayed as frivolous expenditure on refreshments.

Ahemba also dismissed claims that the state government had neglected rural water provision, describing such allegations as unfounded.

He said the administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule had made significant investments in water infrastructure since assuming office in 2019.

According to him, the government, through agencies such as the State Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, the Ministry of Water Resources and the State Water Board, has implemented wide-ranging reforms with the support of development partners.

Ahemba stated that the interventions had led to the rehabilitation and upgrade of water facilities in several communities, including Doma, Keana, Awe, Lafia, Nasarawa Eggon, Keffi and Karu.

He listed projects such as grid connections, pump replacements, dredging, borehole rehabilitation, plant renovations and procurement of operational equipment, noting that the investments ran into billions of naira.

According to him, the scope of the projects, which cover both rural and urban areas, contradicts claims that the water sector has been neglected.

The state government urged members of the public to disregard what it described as a misleading and malicious publication.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to prudent financial management, accountability and the prioritisation of critical sectors, including education, healthcare, water supply and rural development.

Ahemba further advised media organisations to verify facts before publication to avoid misleading the public and eroding confidence in government policies and programmes.