The Edo state government says it has no plan to obtain a N7 billion loan to finance the Light Up Edo project.

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Andrew Emwanta, made the clarification in an interview in Benin on Monday, in reaction to an allegation by Edo chapter of the All Progressives Congress. 

The APC chairman in the state, David Imuse, had at a news conference on Saturday, said taking such a loan would further increase Edo’s debt profile.

Mr Imuse described any such plan as unfortunate, and expressed the party’s rejection of any attempt by the state government to access the loan.

“The Light Up Edo project is a scam; we have only seen the repainting of a few street light poles.

“Nothing has been achieved by the current government. Planning to access another loan shows that it is not serious with governance,” Mr Imuse alleged.

Meanwhile, Mr Emwanta said it was laughable to accuse the state government of planning to obtain a loan to fund an already completed project. 

He also said it was unfortunate the state APC was attacking the government for inaugurating completed projects.

“Nothing can be more anti-development than such a statement.

“They deliberately excluded major people-oriented projects that have been completed by the current administration.

“They rather chose to criticise the state government’s move to comply with the master plan as required by law,” Mr Emwanta said. 

(NAN)