Anambra commissioner says loans from Obi administration still deducted from state allocations

The Anambra State Government says deductions are still being made from its monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee revenue to service external loans it attributes to the administration of former governor Peter Obi.

Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation Law Mefor made the claim during an appearance on Arise Television’s The Morning Show amid the continuing dispute over the financial record of Obi’s administration.

Mefor said the fact that some of the facilities were guaranteed by the Federal Government did not mean the funds were grants or that they did not require repayment.

According to him, deductions are being made from Anambra’s FAAC allocation each month to service the facilities.

Mefor said eight external facilities were involved and argued that states had a choice whether to participate in the lending programmes.

He put the value of the external facilities attributed to Obi’s administration at about $123 million.

The Anambra State Government has separately said that the outstanding balance on eight external loans associated with projects implemented during Obi’s tenure stood at about N127.4 billion as of June 30, 2026, based on its interpretation of Debt Management Office records.

Obi disputes the state government’s characterisation of his financial record.

The former governor has said his administration left office in 2014 without outstanding salaries, pensions, gratuities or payments due to contractors whose work had been properly completed and processed.

Obi has challenged the Anambra government to provide evidence contradicting his account and said he would stop campaigning if it could establish that his administration left the state owing such obligations.

The dispute has developed into a wider public debate over how loans, outstanding balances, inherited obligations and savings from Obi’s tenure should be interpreted.