Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has explained his administration’s decision to opt out of an existing World Bank loan agreement to avoid placing the state under unsustainable debt. During a tour of the ongoing Government House and Governor’s Lodge project in Awka, Soludo revealed that his administration had not borrowed from any financial institution and declined the Federal Government’s 2024 loan offer to states.
Soludo emphasized that Anambra was the only state to withdraw from the World Bank loan deal, which was signed before he assumed office. He noted that while it would have been easy to continue with the loan, he found the terms unsustainable and detrimental to the state’s long-term financial health. He reiterated, “I need money, but I cannot borrow my state into slavery.”
Soludo also discussed his administration’s progress on infrastructure, highlighting the construction of over 750 kilometers of roads, with 410 kilometers already completed. Additionally, he pointed to his focus on education, healthcare, and youth empowerment, with an aim to restore the dignity of labor and counter the growing “get-rich-quick” mentality among the youth.
Regarding the Government House project, Soludo shared that it was a major milestone for the state, given that it had been 34 years since Anambra’s creation, and past administrations had operated from temporary offices. The new facility, designed to last for 200 years, includes 34 buildings and aims to strengthen the state’s governance infrastructure.
The Ubah Media Team and local Nollywood actors praised the Governor’s efforts, acknowledging the scale of the Government House project and the state’s development under Soludo’s leadership, achieved without taking on additional debt. They urged the public to support the administration as the November 8 governorship election approaches.
