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From Abel Leonard, Lafia
The Nasarawa State Government has dismissed as misleading and unfounded a report alleging that the state spent N707 million on refreshments and meals while neglecting rural water provision.
The allegation, published by an online medium, Sahara Reporters, was described by the government as a gross misrepresentation of facts, stressing that the figure cited did not reflect a single discretionary expenditure.
Reacting in a press release on Monday, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, Hon. Peter Ahemba, said the N707 million represented aggregated expenditures across several ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) over a nine-month period.
“The N707 million figure represents cumulative statutory and operational expenditures across multiple MDAs over the referenced nine months period,” Ahemba said.
“These include costs related to meetings, trainings, workshops, security activities and programme implementation, and not a single expense on refreshments and meals as erroneously portrayed.”
The government also faulted claims that rural water access had been neglected under the administration of Governor Abdullahi A. Sule, describing such assertions as “laughable” and contrary to verifiable developments on ground.
According to the statement, since assuming office in 2019, Governor Sule’s administration has implemented far-reaching reforms and sustained investments in the water sector, working through agencies such as the Nasarawa State Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (NASWASSA), the Ministry of Water Resources, the State Water Board and various development partners.
“It is public knowledge that the Sule administration constituted a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Taskforce and enacted relevant enabling laws to strengthen service delivery in the sector,” Ahemba stated.
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He noted that the government has executed and rehabilitated major water projects across Doma, Keana, Awe, Lafia, Nasarawa Eggon, Keffi, Karu and several other towns, running into billions of naira.
“These projects include grid connections, pump replacements, dredging, borehole rehabilitation, plant renovations and procurement of critical operational equipment across rural and urban communities,” he added.
The government maintained that the scale and spread of these interventions clearly contradict claims of neglect and urged the public to disregard what it described as a malicious publication lacking factual basis.
Reaffirming its commitment to accountability, the state government emphasised that investments in water supply, education, healthcare and rural development form part of a broader strategy to improve the welfare of citizens.
“The Nasarawa State Government remains uncompromising in its commitment to prudent financial management, accountability and the prioritisation of essential services,” Ahemba said.
While welcoming constructive scrutiny of public spending, the government advised media organisations to verify facts before publication to avoid misleading the public and eroding trust in governance.
“We urge media outlets to always cross-check their facts in the interest of professionalism and responsible journalism,” the statement concluded.
