Apparently disturbed by the alleged ₦10.11 billion spent by Plateau State on foreign and local travel within the first six months of 2026, the state government has debunked the allegation, saying the amount does not represent expenditure on the travels of the governor or Government House.
The state government, in a statement issued and signed by its Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap, explained that the amount was an aggregate expenditure covering travel, transport and related activities across the wider Plateau State public service, including Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), tertiary institutions, the judiciary and the Plateau State House of Assembly, as well as statutory personnel-related entitlements.
It pointed out that the administration of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang places a high premium on the training and retraining of public servants as a critical component of bridging manpower gaps, strengthening institutional capacity and equipping personnel with the requisite skills and expertise to serve the people and deliver effectively across the various MDAs of the state.
It highlighted that a detailed review of the expenditure showed that the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, leave passage entitlements across the public service and training-related travel by various MDAs accounted for the largest share.
“These were followed by the training of Plateau State University lecturers abroad, the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, judiciary-related travel and approved official travel-related expenditures for the Plateau State House of Assembly.
“Among these expenditures are the government’s sponsorship of 200 students on scholarships to India, medical assistance to citizens abroad and other related official engagements undertaken in the interest of the state and its people.”
The statement further pointed out that Governor Mutfwang undertook only three international trips outside Nigeria between January and June 2026, the period covered by the report.
It explained that all the visits were for clearly defined official engagements, adding that in January, the governor travelled to the United States at the invitation of the organisers to attend the Presidential Prayer Breakfast, an important engagement that provided opportunities to build strategic networks and explore partnerships with potential benefits for Nigeria and Plateau State.
The state government emphasised that the Mutfwang-led administration remained committed to serving the people of Plateau State with integrity, responsibility and accountability, and that it would continue to provide accurate and verifiable information on its expenditures and financial activities, while ensuring that public resources were deployed judiciously to achieve measurable development outcomes for the benefit of all citizens.
It therefore reassured citizens that it would remain open, accountable and responsive, while continuing to uphold the highest standards of financial discipline, transparency and responsible governance in the collective interest of the people of the state.