World Bank Debunks Rejection Claims, Says Anambra Never Sought HOPE Loan

The World Bank has confirmed that Anambra State did not express interest in participating in its 2024 HOPE-Governance Programme.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Christian Aburime, the Anambra State Government dismissed as misleading media reports alleging that the state was denied access to the World Bank’s loan facility due to poor performance against established benchmarks.
According to Aburime, the World Bank’s Implementation Status & Results Report on Nigeria HOPE-Governance (P181476), dated July 7, 2025, clearly states: “Thirty-five states and the Federal Capital Territory have expressed interest in participating in the Programme. Anambra State did not express interest to participate in the Programme.”
He noted that the report makes no reference to Anambra State being disqualified or failing to meet any performance benchmarks. Rather, it only states that the states which expressed interest engaged with the World Bank for implementation guidance.
“Anambra State’s non-participation was a deliberate administrative decision, not a penalty,” Aburime said. “The Anambra State Government, under the leadership of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, evaluates every programme against its development priorities and fiscal timelines before making any commitment.”
The state government further clarified that it is currently concluding due diligence and ongoing engagements with the World Bank. It reaffirmed that Anambra State will not hesitate to participate in any progressive programme or policy that aligns with its development priorities, both now and in the future.
The government, therefore, urged the media and the general public to verify facts before publishing or sharing information and to refrain from making unfounded insinuations capable of misleading the public.
“The statement concluded by urging all stakeholders to rely on verified information and avoid the dissemination of misleading narratives,” it added.