TD Awka, Anambra State — The Government of Anambra State, under the leadership of Governor Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has released documentary evidence to support the Governor’s earlier statement that the state is still servicing loans procured during the administration of former Governor Peter Obi.
This was contained in a detailed press statement signed by Commissioner for Information & Value Reformation, Law Okwu Mefor.
The government outlined the debt profile inherited from Obi’s tenure, including external loans, salary arrears, and the controversial ₦2.13 billion ecological fund claim.
Public Debt Records
According to the statement, Anambra State continues to pay billions of naira in debt servicing obligations linked to loans contracted between 2007 and 2013 under Obi’s administration.
The government provided a breakdown of eight separate external loans, including projects such as:
- Malaria Control Booster Project
- Third National Fadama Development Project
- Health System Development Project II
- State Education Programme Investment Project
- Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project
As of June 30, 2026, the outstanding balance on these loans stood at $92.35 million (₦127.37 billion), according to figures from the Debt Management Office (DMO).
Salary Arrears and Pensions
The Soludo administration also highlighted arrears left behind, including unpaid salaries, gratuities, and pensions owed to retired teachers and staff of the Water Corporation.
While some payments have been made, the government noted that lingering arrears remain, contradicting claims that Obi left a debt‑free administration.
Ecological Fund Controversy
The statement directly addressed Obi’s claim of leaving ₦2.13 billion in an ecological fund account with First Bank, UNIZIK Branch, Awka.
The government insisted that the account in question was actually an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Consolidated Revenue Account, not an ecological fund account, and that no such balance ever existed.
It further dismissed the narrative of a “phantom ₦75 billion savings or investment”, describing it as political propaganda.
Government’s Position
Commissioner Law Mefor emphasized that the administration’s response was not intended to join issues with Obi but to ensure transparency and accountability.
“When a former governor makes outlandish claims about the state of public debt he left behind, and the present government has been spending billions servicing the same debt, a responsible government owes the public a response,” the statement read.
The government reiterated that debt, when tied to bankable projects and human capital development, is justifiable, but insisted that Obi’s narrative of leaving a debt‑free state is “verifiably false.”
Political Context and Conclusion
The release comes amid heightened political tension as Nigeria approaches the January 2027 presidential election, with Peter Obi positioned as a major opposition figure.
Analysts say the Anambra government’s statement is likely to intensify debates around Obi’s record in office and his credibility as a presidential candidate.
The Anambra State Government has now placed its records in the public domain, reaffirming Governor Soludo’s earlier assertion that the state continues to service debts inherited from Obi’s administration.
This development is expected to fuel further political discourse, as both camps trade accusations over debt management, transparency, and governance legacies.
