Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo has clarified what his government will be doing with the N100 billion he is borrowing.
Speaking after assenting to the 2022 Revised appropriation budget of N170 billion on Friday July 22, Soludo said the loan would be used for critical infrastructural development particularly in building roads, bridges and others.
Signing the budget tagged “Building Off From The Blocks” at the Government House, Awka, the Governor said Anambra people cannot wait for results that would be achieved.
Promising that there will be absolute diplomacy in making sure Anambra gets value for the money that will be borrowed, he added that the whole amount won't be spent this year.
The money according to Soludo, would be judiciously used to create wealth for the benefit of the people of the state.
Calling for powerful synergy between the legislative and other arms of government for greater Anambra, the Governor commended members of the House of Assembly for being diligent, responsible and responsive to their job as lawmakers and representatives of the people of Anambra State.
He said, “The patriotic and responsive manner the budget was passed by the State House of Assembly was not only commendable but signalled the birth of a new partnership for a greater Anambra.”
Recounting how he said that N250 billion was estimated as the amount expected to build critical infrastructure towards the realisation of the livable and prosperous homeland in the state that every Anambra person yearns for during his campaign, Soludo insisted that there's no underhand dealings in signing the budget as the process was conducted with integrity, patriotism and responsiveness.
Lamenting that the resources at the government disposal are abysmally lean, the Governor said they had no option but to draw up multiple strategies including taking a look at the trajectory of expenditure, introducing prudence in spending, among others.
As part of the measures to improve government finances, Soludo said efforts are being made to digitize the Internally Generated Revenue of the state to eliminate leakages.
He specifically thanked the Speaker and the House members for understanding the exigencies to approve the planned loan.
The Governor said, “I promised Ndi Anambra the money will be spent on critical infrastructure, particularly on roads, bridges, flyover, among other strategic places.
“I thank Ndi Anambra for their support and sacrifices through payment of their fair share of taxes and others. For people who have violated public order such as indiscriminate building of illegal structures, we say enough is enough. These are necessary, painful steps that we must take to rescue our state.”