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AWKA – Amid criticisms that Anambra state failed to secure World Bank loan due to the poor performance of Governor Charles Soludo, the state government has said that it never applied for the loan after all.
This has been confirmed by the World Bank itself which wrote and clarified that the Anambra State did not express interest to participate in its 2024 HOPE-Governance Programme.
Recall that Governor Soludo has openly said that he is not interested in loans unless it would impact positively on its policies.
Part of a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Christian Aburime, reads: “The World Bank has confirmed that Anambra State did not express interest to participate in its 2024 HOPE-Governance Program, contrary to misleading media reports alleging that the State was denied the World Bank loan facility due to poor performance benchmarks.
“According to the World Bank, in its Implementation Status & Results Report on Nigeria HOPE-Governance (P181476), dated July 07, 2025, _“35 states and the Federal Capital Territory have expressed interest in participating in the Program. Anambra State did not express interest to participate in the Program.”
Aburime noted that the report made no mention of disqualification or failed benchmarks, only that interested states engaged the Bank for guidance.
He stated that Anambra’s non-participation was a deliberate administrative decision, not a penalty, adding: “Anambra State Government under Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, evaluates every program against its priorities and fiscal timelines before committing”.
