Alleged Unpaid Debts By Anambra Govt: Exploding Soludo's Fairy Tales

 By Mudi Mudi

I have taken some time to research on the loan descriptions as released by the Anambra State Government which they claim Peter Obi as Governor signed off and my findings are as follows:

1. The Nigeria Malaria Control Booster Project (MCBP) 2007:

This was financed through a US$180 million IDA credit from the World Bank to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, not a loan independently taken by the Anambra State Government. The World Bank records say the original IDA credit was approved in December 2006 and became effective on May 15, 2007.

Anambra was one of the seven participating states, along with Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano and Rivers.

VERDICT: FG was the borrower not Anambra State Government.

2. Fadama III:

This project was a World Bank/IDA-financed project for Nigeria. The World Bank's project documentation identifies the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the borrower, not Anambra State.

The original Fadama III project was approved in 2008. The World Bank records the project period as 2008–2013 and the original IDA financing as US$250 million. 

Anambra was one of the states participating in the project. World Bank records specifically identify an Anambra State Fadama III Project, financed through IDA Credit No. 45960. 

Therefore, describing the Anambra Fadama III programme simply as "a loan taken by Anambra State Government in 2007" would be misleading. The underlying World Bank borrowing was at the Federal Government level.

VERDICT: FG was the borrower not Anambra State Government 

*Obi and Soludo

3. Health Systems Development ll (ADD FIN.)

The financial document listing Nigeria's state-level IDA obligations records “Health Systems Development” Anambra State, with a signing date of August 22, 2003, an amount of XDR 4,831,046, and a 0.75% service charge.

The same document separately lists Health System Development Project II (Additional Financing) for Anambra, so the 2009 reference may relate to the additional financing/HSDP II, rather than the original HSDP.

Anambra-specific records confirm that Health System Development Project II was World Bank-assisted, with activities being implemented in the state.

VERDICT: It was an FG project benefiting Anambra State. The Original document was signed in 2003 and 2009 was just an additional financing of the 2003 signed document. 

4. The State Education Program Investment Project (SEPIP):

It started in 2013 and included Anambra State. However, the World Bank documents identify the Federal Government of Nigeria as the borrower, not Anambra State Government. The original financing was a US$150 million IDA credit to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with funds disbursed to Anambra, Bauchi and Ekiti through subsidiary financing agreements.

The World Bank's financing agreement for the original SEPIP is Credit No. 5220-NG, dated April 16, 2013.

VERDICT: FG was the borrower not Anambra State. 

5.The Community and Social Development Project (P090644):

This project became effective in February 2009.

The World Bank's project completion report identifies the Federal Government of Nigeria as the borrower of the original IDA financing. The original commitment was SDR 121.5 million (US$200 million equivalent).

Anambra was just one of the participating states. 

6: The Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP):

This project was approved by the World Bank in May 2012 and became effective in September 2013.

The original financing agreement was between the International Development Association (IDA) and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for US$600 million.

Anambra was one of the participating states and had its own State Project Management Unit (SPMU) implementing the project.

Anambra's project documents explicitly refer to the funds as part of the Federal Government's IDA credit. A 2014 procurement notice says the Federal Government had received the credit.

VERDICT: FG was the borrower not Anambra State Government. 

7. The Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP):

Records shows VCDP was approved by IFAD in April 2012, not 2013.

The financing agreement was between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and IFAD, signed in August 2012.

The programme became effective in October 2013.

The original programme covered Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Niger, Ogun and Taraba.

The original financing included an IFAD loan of US$74.4 million, an IFAD grant of US$0.5 million, plus counterpart contributions from the Federal Government, participating states, LGAs and beneficiaries.

IFAD's documentation specifically describes the loan agreement as being between FGN and IFAD.

VERDICT: FG was the borrower not Anambra State Government. 

OVERALL VERDICT:

All the project listed by the Soludo led Anambra State claiming that it was financed by loan independently taken by Anambra State Government under Mr. Peter Obi are 100% false and misleading. Verifiable World Bank records shows FG was indeed the borrower while Anambra State under Obi participated and benefited just like some other states.