The Ebonyi State government has refuted allegations that it lost a $27 million World Bank grant due to poor governance, describing the claim as false, politically motivated and a deliberate attempt to misrepresent the performance of Governor Francis Nwifuru's administration.
The government maintained that contrary to the allegation circulating on social media, the Nwifuru administration has, within three years in office, attracted several federal and international development interventions worth billions of naira and millions of dollars, positioning Ebonyi among the leading beneficiary states of strategic development programmes in the country.
In a statement issued during the weekend and signed by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Documentation, Dr. Boniface Nwankwo, the state government under Nwifuru said it became necessary to address the issue in order to provide the public with accurate information.
According to Nwankwo, "The social media space has recently been awash with commentaries by some individuals, many of whom are perceived political opponents, alleging that Ebonyi State lost a $27 million World Bank grant recently due to what they described as poor governance under Governor Francis Nwifuru.
"Ordinarily, such allegations could have been dismissed as another episode of politically motivated misinformation. However, in the interest of setting the records straight and providing the public with accurate information, this clarification has become expedient."
The governor's aide insisted that Governor Nwifuru's style of governance could not objectively be described as poor, noting that the administration has remained committed to implementing its People's Charter of Needs agenda through people-oriented policies and projects.
He said, "Governor Francis Nwifuru's style of governance cannot, by any objective standard, be described as poor. His administration has remained firmly committed to the People's Charter of Needs, a governance philosophy anchored on public welfare, inclusive development and responsive leadership.
Across critical sectors, the administration has consistently demonstrated its resolve to meet the genuine needs and aspirations of the people of Ebonyi State."
The statement further argued that critics deliberately ignored the numerous grants and strategic investments attracted by the state under the present administration.
Among the projects highlighted were the establishment of the Nigerian Army Training Depot for the South-East at Amasiri in Edda Local Government Area, the Nigerian Navy Secondary School at Amechara in Izzi Local Government Area, and the proposed University of Aeronautics, which the government said would be the first of its kind in the South-East geopolitical zone.
The government also listed a ₦12 billion Productive Use of Energy (PUE) Agro-Processing Equipment Grant for the installation of solar-powered processing facilities for rice, cassava, millet, palm oil and other agricultural products across the state.
According to the statement, 12 agro-processing stations have already been completed and are awaiting commissioning, while work is ongoing at 24 additional centres.
Nwankwo disclosed that the state had also qualified for another ₦10 billion Productive Use of Energy grant and was at the final stage of accessing the intervention.
He added that the administration secured a $25 million Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Programme intervention, noting that Ebonyi is among only 16 states selected nationwide to benefit from the initiative.
The statement also revealed that the state attracted an ₦8.1 billion African Development Bank Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Intervention Grant, making Ebonyi the only South-East state among the eight beneficiaries of the programme.
The government said these interventions demonstrate the confidence reposed in the state by development partners and federal institutions.
"Those who have chosen to amplify the narrative surrounding the alleged $27 million grant would do well to ascertain whether any other South-East state has attracted the array of grants and strategic interventions listed above," Nwankwo said.
He added, "By attempting to portray Ebonyi as having missed one opportunity, they have inadvertently highlighted the remarkable success of Governor Nwifuru's administration in attracting numerous development programmes and investments that have positioned Ebonyi among the leading beneficiary states of both federal and international interventions."
The governor's aide described the allegation as "political content creation" rather than a reflection of facts, urging residents of the state and members of the public to disregard what he termed misinformation.
"It is therefore evident that the current wave of criticism is driven more by political content creation than by facts.
"We urge well-meaning Ebonyians and members of the public to disregard the misinformation and remain confident that Governor Francis Nwifuru remains unwavering in his commitment to attracting meaningful development, expanding economic opportunities and delivering the dividends of democracy to every part of the state.
"Under Governor Francis Nwifuru, Ebonyi State will continue to move forward, grow stronger and achieve even greater milestones," the statement concluded.
