Why I pulled out of World Bank loan, refused to borrow—Gov– Nigerian Governor
Why I pulled out of World Bank loan, refused to borrow – Nigerian Governor
Gov Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra says his administration pulled out of an existing loan arrangement with the World Bank to save the state from “debt overhang”.
Soludo said this while addressing members of the Late Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah Media team who were on inspection of the ongoing Government House and Governors Lodge project in Awka on Sunday.
He said his administration had not only refused to borrow from any bank or institution but also refused to access the Federal Government loan to states in 2024.
He said that notwithstanding the development, his administration had embarked on ambitious and people oriented projects which were at various stages of completion.
According to him, it may interest you to know that Anambra is the only state that pulled out of an existing World Bank loan arrangements which was signed before I came in.
“I looked at the terms of the loan and I said it was not sustainable; it was easy to continue with it because the next generation will pay but based on the terms, it was a bad deal for Anambra.
“Last year N438 billion was distributed to 35 states, Anambra was the only state that did not take it. I need money but I cannot borrow my state into slavery,” he said.
Soludo said he was giving Anambra a permanent Government House and Governor’s Lodge 34 years after it was created, expressing regret that the facilities had exited at a construction company office and outside Awka respectively.
He said that it was a magnificent project with about 34 buildings which were being built to last, such that in the next 200 years, they would still be standing like the White House in America.
“I said we are going to break the jinx and we are doing that with the biggest and the best that somebody said is going to be like a mini city,” he said.
Soludo said he had done over 750 kilometers of roads with about 410km completed with attention to parts of the state that had not seen tarred roads since their existence.
“We have touched education, health, youth empowerment, social reorientation and bringing back our value of dignity in labour against this new get rich quick mentality that is destroying our youths.
“I told Anambra people when I was sworn in that I will show them where every Kobo they gave me is channeled,” he said.
Mr Kamen Ogbonna, the Leader of the Ubah media team said they were impressed with what the governor was doing as it aligned with their Philosophy.
Ogbonna said it was interesting to note that Soludo had made such progress in three years without borrowing from any source.
“The magnitude of the Government House and Governors Lodge will tell you why other governors carefully avoided the project,” he said.
Nollywood stars including Steve Alajemba (Uwaezuoke) and Collins Monago who were on the trip lauded Soludo for his works and urged Anambra people to support him to continue the good job as they prepared for Nov. 8 guber. (NAN)
Afolabi gave the warning on Sunday in Akure during an interactive session organised by the state Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), tagged: “The Platform”.
He said series of operations had been carried out in different parts of the state, while some kidnappers were arrested and victims rescued since he assumed office.
The CP said that efforts made so far by the command, in terms of relationship with the people, had started to yield positive results.
According to him, the People Safety Partnership initiative I introduced when I assumed duty in the state a couple of months ago, is already paying off.
He explained the initiative was especially effective with residents of violence-prone communities on intelligence gathering.
The CP, therefore, called on the residents to immediately contact the police whenever they suspected any strange faces and suspicious movements in their areas.
He, however, said the command needed assistance from government and other stakeholders in the state, in terms of provision of patrol vans and repair of grounded patrol vehicles.
According to Afolabi, the provision of more vehicles will ensure the timely and effective response to distress calls.
“We can’t use orthodox methods to address present security challenges. Most of our vehicles are grounded. The refurbishing are ongoing through the financial assistance of the people.
“We need Military drones that can go 50km, live tracking devices to get the location where criminals are hiding, Lawful Intersection (LI), fueling of vehicles among others.
“Now, kidnapping has gone highly sophisticated and you can confirm from anybody.
“We can’t use the same old method, or maybe the approach of the 70s or the 80s or even the 90s to address this present security challenges.
“In a lot of states where they are having successes and breakthroughs, they have hi-tech machines, drones, LI machines, live tracking, but here, we don’t have them.
“So, most times, whenever there is any incident of kidnapping, you deploy your men to comb the bushes. That is archaic and you hardly can achieve much success,” he said.
Afolabi further disclosed that the successes he had achieved was as a result of the synergy with other sister security agencies in the state.
The CP also said that the command, under his watch had trained various investigative personnel periodically, whicb would enable continuous achievement of the needed results.(NAN)
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FRSC Corps Marshal sanctions Sector commander over worn-out tyre
FRSC Corps Marshal sanctions Sector commander over worn-out tyre
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Malam Shehu Mohammed, has condemned the use of a worn-out tyre on one of the corps’ patrol vehicles in Ondo State.
Mohammed ordered the immediate sanction of the Sector Commander, under whose jurisdiction the infraction occurred.
This is contained in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Sunday in Abuja
The FRSC boss said that the Corps had zero tolerance for any form of compromise against its core values and safety standards.
He explained that a vehicle intercepted was booked for infraction, but the Sector Commander would be made to pay the fine for his negligence, in addition to being sanction.
“The FRSC has been inundated with a very disturbing video that has gone viral on the information environment.
“This is particularly on social media; regarding one of its patrol vehicles, under the Ondo State Sector Command, captured operating with a worn out tyre.
“While we commend the public for their watch dog role over the services we provide, it is important to state without any delay that this very act is a complete negation of the corps’ core values.
“This includes, as well as, operating procedures on maximum safety standards for all operational and administrative vehicles of the Corps,”he said.
The FRSC boss reiterated the corps’ commitment to maintaining high-quality standards, especially in vehicle maintenance, and pledged to continue enhancing its safety protocols.
Mohammed said that the corps’ management would continue to supervise field commands diligently, while commanding officers were expected to uphold the corps’ ideals.
“It is therefore apt to remind the motoring public that the FRSC remains a pace-setter amongst agencies in Nigeria and we will continue to enhance on the mileages achieved in that regard over the years,” he said.(NAN)
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How I almost lost my life – Pastor Adeboye recounts encounter with death
How I almost lost my life – Pastor Adeboye recounts encounter with death
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has recounted how he narrowly escaped death seven years ago during one of the church’s evangelism programs.
He shared the testimony of God’s grace and mercy in his life at the annual Special Holy Ghost Service, themed “Joy Unspeakable”.
Adeboye narrated how he fell critically ill due to terrible road conditions and was forced to spend Christmas Day in bed for the first time in his life.
He said his condition was so severe that he had to be airlifted from Ilesha to the camp, but local miscreants attempted to prevent the helicopter from taking off, damaging one of the windows in the process.
Despite this harrowing experience, Adeboye expressed his gratitude for God’s benevolence towards him and the ministry.
He attributed his survival to God’s grace and encouraged his congregation to thank God for sparing his life.
He said: “Seven years ago, during this same program, my body broke down completely due to the terrible road conditions. For the first time in my life, I spent Christmas Day in bed. The devil was certain he had finally got me. I collapsed in Ilesha, and to bring me back to the camp, we had to charter a helicopter. I was too weak to travel by road—if I had, I would not have made it.
“They clung to the helicopter, and in the process, one of the windows got torn. But by God’s grace, I managed to reach the camp. I had an assurance that if only I could get to the camp, I would recover. Seven years later, I am still here! I want you to thank God for sparing my life. Please, praise Him for me—give Him glory, honor, and adoration!”