By Sunday Ani
The Centre For Convention on Democratic integrity (CCDI) has dismissed the report that the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara increased the state’s debt from N5 billion to N213 billion within a year.
President of CCDI, Olufemi Aduwo, who said the report by an online publication was a distortion of facts, quoted records from the Debt Management Office (DMO) as having revealed that Rivers State’s domestic debt stood at N389.20 billion as of June 2023. He said this debt significantly predated Fubara’s administration.
He emphasised that state governments are constitutionally allowed to borrow, provided such funds are directed toward developmental projects. He cited Lagos State, Nigeria’s wealthiest state, as a prime example.
“Despite being the most indebted, Lagos’s resource management and developmental strides justify its borrowing.
“Similarly, Fubara’s only loan secured so far was for the ring road project, which is a vital infrastructure initiative designed to boost economic growth and connectivity. The loan is already being serviced, reflecting his commitment to fiscal responsibility,” he stated.
Aduwo lamented that Fubara has faced considerable persecution since he assumed office, with politically motivated attacks targeting his administration.
He criticised the sensational reports by certain media outlets, calling for public discourse to be grounded in accuracy and fairness rather than misinformation.
He urged the publication to consult credible institutions such as the DMO, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the African Development Bank for clarification on Rivers’ debt profile, warning that failure to verify facts risks misleading the public and damaging the credibility of responsible journalism.
He declared that it was unjust to link Fubara to debts that were incurred before his tenure, describing such claims as dishonest and distracting from real developmental challenges.
He urged the media to prioritise facts over political undertones and sensationalism, noting that the people of Rivers State deserve transparent and fair reporting.