The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has asserted that the $115 million loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) was initiated and secured during the tenures of former Governors Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu, not under the current administration. According to the PDP, the funds only became available in Abia State accounts a month after Governor Ikpeazu left office.
In a statement signed by the Vice Chairman and acting Publicity Secretary of the party, Abraham Amah, the PDP criticized the present administration for not acknowledging the efforts of the past administrations in securing the funds from AfDB. The statement clarified that the $115 million is part of a larger sum of $263 million, which was originally proposed by the two preceding administrations in collaboration with AfDB and other lenders. The purpose of the funds was outlined for the construction of Port Harcourt Road, Aba, as well as other roads within the state and the management of erosion in specific areas.
Of the total amount, the AfDB approved $100 million, while a Canadian lending agency sanctioned $15 million, recently approved by the Federal government. The statement emphasized that the past administrations were responsible for initiating this financial arrangement.
Despite attempts to obtain the state government’s response, the Special Adviser to the Abia State Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, could not be reached for comment as his phone was unavailable, and messages sent to his WhatsApp had not received responses at the time of the report.
