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The Anambra State Government has said it is still servicing loans inherited from the administrations of former governors Peter Obi and Willie Obiano, even as it maintains that Governor Chukwuma Soludo has not borrowed from any commercial bank since assuming office.

The Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, said the state’s debt burden had fallen by more than 83 per cent under Soludo, with the administration also clearing several inherited domestic obligations.

Okafor disclosed this during a Ndi Anambra podcast uploaded by Anambra State New Media on Monday while explaining the state’s finances and debt position.

He said repayments on loans secured by previous administrations continued to be deducted from Anambra’s allocation through the Federation Account Allocation Committee, including obligations dating back to the Obi and Obiano administrations.

“Yes, every month during our FAC meetings, and when you see the schedule of FAC, you will notice there were substantial, significant deductions from our own FAC because of loans previously borrowed by previous administrations,” Okafor said.

“These loans were borrowed, you know, during the time of, even, not the immediate predecessor, even during the time of Peter Obi and Willie Obiano, His Excellency, the past governors,” he said.

According to the commissioner, the Soludo administration had focused on managing the inherited obligations while avoiding new commercial borrowing.

“It’s on record, you know, that this administration has not borrowed a kobo from any commercial bank since the inception of this administration,” he said.

Okafor said the government had also settled a number of legacy liabilities, including unpaid contracts, gratuity and pension arrears, bringing the state’s domestic debt close to zero.

“But I will give you an example for our domestic debt, the control, the legacy, what we call legacy debts, you know, the contracts that were not paid, not owing, the gratuity arrears, pension arrears, we’ve been able to clear all that,” he said.

He added, “In terms of, so, our domestic debt as of today is near-zero balance.”

The commissioner attributed the reduction in the overall debt burden to repayments made by the administration, saying several inherited loans had already been settled.

“But I will also say that Mr Governor has not borrowed a penny. We have been able to manage the debt, the state debt, very well, that we have brought it down by more than 83 per cent as of today. I’ve been able to repay back most of these loans,” he said.

External obligations, however, remain part of the state’s financial commitments. Okafor explained that repayments on some foreign-denominated loans are deducted from the state’s federal allocation under the terms attached to the facilities.

“But following as well, external debts, which is foreign loan-denominated debts, when you look at it, because there are some covenants around the period it will take to pay off these loans, particularly deducted as such when we are doing FAC,” he said.

“Before they limit Anambra’s own allocation, they will deduct it as such, because most of them, World Bank loans and other loans, they committed.”

Okafor also disclosed that the state had recently fully repaid one of its debts.

“There is one debt that we recently paid off, CAGS,” he said.

He said the reduction in inherited liabilities had given the government more room to finance other priorities.

“So, in a nutshell, I’ve been able to, you know, create more fiscal space for Anambra State,” Okafor said.

He added, “This administration has been able to create more by paying off, you know, backlog of numerous debts inherited from previous governments, starting from the time of Peter Obi.”

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No fewer than nine passengers were killed when gunmen opened fire on a commercial bus at Dungus Junction in Kuru community, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Residents told journalists that the incident occurred when the bus driver parked to allow some passengers alight at the junction.

According to Daily Trust the bus which was heading to Jos was stained with blood and riddled with bullets.

Lawan Suleiman, a neighbor and teacher of one of the victims, confirmed the incident, adding that the attack occurred while the bus was stopped at the junction.

He said, “The driver is Ibrahim and he was my student. Three of them are from our community here in Bukuru. Their bodies have been deposited at the hospital. But relatives are preparing to collect them for burial.”

Spokesman of the Berom Youth Moulders, BYM, Rwang Tengwong, also confirmed the incident saying the victims were passengers travelling to Jos when the attackers opened fire on their vehicle.

“The incident happened around 9.40p.m. The victims were all passengers travelling to Jos when the terrorists opened fire on the vehicle. Among those killed was a member of Operation Rainbow. It is a very sad development and we lament the loss of lives.”

According to him, some of the passengers sustained gunshot wounds and were rushed to hospitals, where some later died.

Plateau state police command is yet to issue a statement regarding the incident as of press. (Daily Trust)

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More than 600 senior lecturers from public universities across Northern Nigeria have declared their support for President Bola Tinubu’s bid to secure another term in the 2027 presidential election.

As reported by DAILY TRUST, the lecturers made their position known at a stakeholders’ meeting in Kaduna convened by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari, to discuss the administration’s performance and the country’s political direction ahead of the next general election.

The meeting, held at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Centre, attracted several northern political leaders, including Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal, Yobe Governor Mai Mala Buni, Borno Governor Babagana Zulum and Gombe Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

The Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle, Minister of Housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, and former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, were also among those who attended the engagement.

Presenting the communiqué, the Vice Chancellor of Kaduna State University, Prof Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa, said the academics assessed Tinubu’s administration since May 2023, including its handling of the economy, security, education, infrastructure and social development.

According to the lecturers, although some government reforms had increased the economic burden on Nigerians through higher living and transportation costs, the measures had also improved government revenue and public finances. They further cited developments in education funding, agriculture, infrastructure, business support and the digital economy.

The academics subsequently resolved to support Tinubu’s re-election but cautioned that their backing was not an unconditional endorsement.

They called on the Federal Government to urgently address food and transport costs, unemployment and insecurity, while strengthening investment in education, healthcare, agriculture, electricity, roads and other infrastructure in the North.

However, the Academic Staff Union of Universities distanced itself from the declaration, with its President, Prof Chris Piwuna, insisting that ASUU remains politically neutral.

Piwuna said individual lecturers were free to support any political party or candidate of their choice, but stressed that such decisions must not be attributed to the union.

“We have never, and we will never endorse any political party candidate. Nobody should drag us into such things,” the ASUU president said.

The endorsement came as political consultations intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with the Tinubu camp seeking the backing of influential groups across Northern Nigeria.