The Ebonyi State Government has dismissed allegations circulating on social media that the state lost a $27 million World Bank grant due to poor governance, describing the claims as misleading and politically motivated.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Documentation, Dr. Boniface Nwankwo, said the allegations were a deliberate attempt by political opponents to misinform the public and undermine the achievements of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration.
According to him, while the government would ordinarily have ignored the claims, it considered it necessary to set the record straight and provide residents with accurate information.
Nwankwo maintained that Governor Nwifuru’s administration, guided by its People’s Charter of Needs agenda, has remained committed to delivering inclusive development, responsive governance, and improved welfare for the people of Ebonyi State.
He noted that rather than focusing on what he described as an unverified narrative, critics had ignored the numerous federal and international grants and strategic interventions attracted to the state within the last three years.
Among the projects listed were the Nigerian Army Training Depot for the South-East located 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 is expected to become the first of its kind in the South-East.
The governor’s aide also disclosed that the administration secured a Productive Use of Energy (Agro-Processing Equipment) Grant valued at about ₦12 billion for the installation of solar-powered agro-processing facilities for rice, cassava, millet, palm oil, and other agricultural products across the state.
He said 12 processing stations have already been completed and are awaiting commissioning, while work is ongoing at 24 additional locations.
According to the statement, Ebonyi has also qualified for another ₦10 billion Productive Use of Energy Grant and is currently at the final stage of accessing the facility.
Nwankwo further revealed that the state secured a 25 million U.S. dollar intervention under the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Programme, adding that Ebonyi is among only 16 states selected nationwide and is also at the final stage of accessing the fund.
He added that the state also attracted an ₦8.1 billion African Development Bank Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Intervention Grant, noting that Ebonyi is the only South-East state among the eight beneficiaries.
The government argued that the volume of grants and strategic investments secured under Governor Nwifuru’s administration demonstrates its commitment to development and contradicts claims of poor governance.
Nwankwo urged residents and the general public to disregard what he described as misinformation, insisting that the administration remains focused on attracting more investments, expanding economic opportunities, and delivering the dividends of democracy across the state.
He reaffirmed that the Nwifuru administration would continue to pursue policies and partnerships aimed at accelerating sustainable development and improving the lives of Ebonyi people.
