ABSIID PROJECT MULTILATERAL LOAN FACILITY: Between Facts and Political Fiction (OPINION)

In the last few days, a group that calls itself the Abia APC Renaissance Group attempted to stir public sentiment with a publication riddled with inaccuracies, conjecture, and a painful lack of understanding of how multilateral financing operates. Their claim that the Abia State Government has already “utilized” funds from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the Canadian Climate Action Africa Facility (CAAF) is not only laughable but exposes an alarming ignorance of how international development frameworks function.

As the official saddled with the responsibility of coordinating and speaking on multilateral and donor engagements on behalf of the Abia State Government, I find it necessary to correct these distortions and present the facts clearly to the people of Abia. Governance is not theatre; it is grounded in process, accountability, and verifiable truth.

The assertion that Abia State has already received and expended the AfDB, IsDB, and CAAF facilities would have been laughable if it were not so reckless. Those who truly understand development financing know that projects of this nature follow strict international protocols. For the avoidance of doubt, the ABSIID Project is still in its early implementation stage. While the AfDB has launched its component, no disbursement for infrastructure or civil works has taken place. The Subsidiary Loan Agreement with the Islamic Development Bank, which must be concluded before any fund release, is still under review and finalization.

Contrary to the outrageous claim that 123 million dollars has been credited to the state account, the actual amount received is only 115,000 dollars, strictly for operational logistics to cover project takeoff expenses such as staffing, coordination, and preliminary preparations. It’s important to state categorically that this fund has not been touched or utilized. No capital funds have been accessed or spent.

It is important to clarify once again that the ABSIID Project operates under a direct payment modality for both the AfDB and IsDB components. This means that payments for civil works, goods, and services are made directly by the lenders to verified contractors and consultants, not through the state government’s accounts. Abia State’s role is strictly supervisory, ensuring compliance, facilitating monitoring, and maintaining institutional alignment with the lenders’ procedures.

Only the CAAF component differs slightly, as it allows funds to be paid into a designated state project account for specific climate-related interventions. Even that process is governed by a rigorous financial framework jointly overseen by the lenders and the Federal Ministry of Finance, ensuring that every dollar is traceable and every expenditure auditable.

Governor Alex Otti’s administration has distinguished itself by restoring donor confidence and credibility, qualities that were long eroded in the past. What previous administrations could not achieve because of non-compliance and lack of transparency, this government has revived, restructured, and positioned for success. Abia now stands as a model of fiscal discipline and administrative credibility, recognized by international development partners as a responsible, reform-driven state. The Project Implementation Unit operates under full international oversight, ensuring that every project milestone is verified, every fund properly accounted for, and every process aligned with global best practices.

It is quite unfortunate that some politically exposed individuals, who should know better, are now sponsoring smear campaigns against the state, not out of patriotism, but out of envy and misplaced ambition for 2027. Their goal is simple: to discredit a transparent administration that is succeeding where others failed. It is public knowledge that a certain federal lawmaker and political actors in the opposition are giving subtle backing to these attacks, hoping to score cheap political points at the expense of the state’s integrity. Their actions are not just petty; they are dangerous because they seek to undermine Abia’s reputation before the very international partners whose confidence we have worked hard to rebuild.

Let it be clearly stated that such political gamesmanship will fail. The facts are too clear, the records too transparent, and the world is watching. Abia State’s reputation is not a tool for political battles. Those who claim to represent the people must first respect the truth. Propaganda cannot replace policy, and ambition should never outweigh integrity.

Governor Alex Otti’s administration remains focused on delivering transformative governance through transparency, partnerships, and results. The ABSIID Project is a cornerstone of that vision, and no amount of misinformation will derail its progress. To those who peddle lies and cloak them in politics, a simple reminder: facts are stubborn things, and in the end, truth always outlives propaganda.

Politics should never come at the expense of truth. Those who aspire to speak on governance matters should first understand them. When propaganda is dressed as information, it insults the intelligence of the people and undermines the very development it pretends to defend. Abians deserve better, and under this administration, they are getting exactly that: responsible governance, credible partnerships, and a transparent pathway to sustainable growth.

So, to those who trade in distortions and call it politics, a gentle reminder: ignorance is not an argument. Abia is no longer the byword for administrative opacity. Under Dr. Alex Otti, the state has rebuilt its credibility with donor agencies, financial institutions, and development partners. The world is once again willing to trust Abia, not because of propaganda, but because of policy, prudence, and professionalism. Those who spent years mortgaging the state’s image may find this new reality uncomfortable, but progress is often unsettling to those accustomed to chaos.

The New Abia is here, and no amount of propaganda will distract us.

Odinakachi Eric Eme
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Multilateral and Donor Agencies, Abia State.