The Anambra government says the World Bank confirmed the state did not express interest in participating in the 2024 HOPE-Governance programme.

The government said the clarification contradicted reports alleging Anambra was denied access to the World Bank facility because of poor performance.

The position is contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Awka by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Christian Aburime.

Aburime said the clarification appeared in the World Bank’s Implementation Status and Results Report on Nigeria HOPE-Governance (P181476) dated July 7, 2025.

He quoted the report as stating: “Thirty-five states and the Federal Capital Territory expressed interest in participating in the programme. Anambra State did not express interest to participate.”

According to him, the report made no reference to Anambra being disqualified or failing to satisfy any performance benchmarks for participation.

“It only indicated that states that expressed interest engaged with the bank for implementation guidance,” Aburime said.

He stressed that the report clearly showed Anambra’s absence from the programme resulted from its decision not to participate, rather than any adverse assessment.

Aburime described the decision as an administrative one, insisting it should not be interpreted as a sanction or evidence of poor governance performance.

He said the administration of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo carefully evaluated development programmes against the state’s strategic priorities and fiscal plans before making commitments.

According to him, the government remained committed to prudent financial management and only pursued partnerships that complemented its long-term development agenda.

Aburime disclosed that the state was concluding due diligence and ongoing discussions with the World Bank on initiatives consistent with its development objectives.

He expressed confidence that Anambra would participate in future World Bank-supported programmes aligned with the state’s priorities and policy direction.

The spokesperson urged journalists and members of the public to verify information before publication to prevent the spread of misleading reports.

He reaffirmed that the state maintained a constructive relationship with the World Bank and remained open to collaborations advancing sustainable development and improved public service delivery.