Edo State’s incoming governor, Monday Okpebholo, refutes claims of a $45m Chinese loan for flyovers, clarifying focus on debt reduction.
Edo State Governor-Elect, Monday Okpebholo, has refuted circulating rumours suggesting he intends to secure a $45 million loan from a Chinese agency for constructing flyovers in Benin City after his November inauguration.
Okpebholo addressed the speculation in a statement issued by his media aide, Godspower Inegbe, stating that the rumour originated from affiliates of the outgoing administration.
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The controversy stemmed from recent photos showing Okpebholo’s visit to the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, an event reportedly misconstrued by some to imply a loan agreement.
Okpebholo clarified that he visited the ambassador upon invitation and did not negotiate any funding agreements.
He emphasised his commitment to addressing existing debts accumulated by the outgoing government rather than taking on additional loans.
Okpebholo’s team asserted, “We wish to set the record straight. The governor-elect had no meeting to discuss a loan with China Exim Bank.
His focus is on managing the current financial burdens with no visible development to justify them.”
Edo State’s Commissioner for Information, Chris Nehikhare, dismissed the rumour, affirming that Obaseki’s administration was not involved in any such claims.
“We don’t know where this information originated. Our administration will conclude on November 12, and the new government will take over,” Nehikhare stated.
The clarification seeks to quell public concerns over the state’s fiscal direction under Okpebholo, who remains focused on debt management and transparency as his administration prepares to assume office.
