Picture: L-R: Obi, Obiano and Soludo
By Kenechukwu Ofomah
The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) has demanded full disclosure of loans allegedly contracted by previous administrations in Anambra State, saying the public needs clear records to determine which debts are still being repaid.
The demand followed comments attributed to the Anambra State Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, that deductions are still being made from the state’s Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations to service loans inherited from previous administrations.
Okafor also reportedly said the administration of Governor Charles Soludo had reduced the state’s debt by more than 83 per cent and had not obtained any commercial bank loan since coming into office.
While CEHRAWS welcomed the reported reduction in the state’s debt, it said claims about inherited loans should be supported with detailed and verifiable records.
The organisation’s Executive Director, Chuka Okoye, said available Debt Management Office (DMO) records showed that Anambra had outstanding debt at the end of Peter Obi’s administration, including about ₦3.026 billion in domestic debt and $30.324 million in external debt as of December 31, 2013.
However, CEHRAWS noted that the figures did not, by themselves, establish that every loan currently being serviced by the state was contracted under Obi’s administration.
The group therefore wants the government to publish a facility-by-facility debt schedule showing the date each loan was approved and drawn, the lender, original amount, purpose, legislative approvals, repayment history, outstanding balance and the administration under which it was contracted.
It said the same disclosure should cover loans obtained during the Willie Obiano administration and all liabilities inherited by the Soludo government.
The demand comes against the backdrop of continuing political debate over the financial records of successive administrations in Anambra, particularly with the 2027 elections approaching and Obi expected to remain a major political figure.
CEHRAWS said it was not accusing the government of partisan motives, but argued that the timing of the renewed discussion made transparency even more important.
The organisation also cited DMO figures showing that Anambra’s domestic debt stood at about ₦28.685 billion as of December 31, 2024, saying that historical debt figures should not be confused with specific loan facilities currently under discussion.
It called for a consolidated Debt and Borrowing Accountability Statement covering the Obi, Obiano and Soludo administrations.
According to the group, the document should provide details of every loan, including its purpose, lender, amount, approval, disbursement, repayment status and outstanding balance.
CEHRAWS further urged the Anambra State House of Assembly, the Auditor-General and other relevant oversight bodies to independently reconcile the government’s claims with DMO records, audited accounts, loan agreements, appropriation laws and FAAC deduction records.
The group explained that loans legally contracted by a state government remain liabilities of the state rather than the personal debts of individual governors.
At the heart of the controversy, therefore, is not simply how much Anambra owes, but which administration contracted each liability, how the funds were used, how much has been repaid and what remains outstanding.
A comprehensive public debt register could settle much of the argument by replacing competing political claims with documented figures.
For CEHRAWS, the issue is one of accountability, insisting that “public debt is public business” and that the documents should speak for themselves.
Tags: Anambra, Peter Obi, Willie Obiano, Soludo, CEHRAWS, Debt
