Imo expects N13.5b of Paris Club loan refund, not N80b, says Okorocha

Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, has said that the state was expecting N13.5 billion from the Paris Club refund loan from the Federal Government and not N80 billion as being speculated in some quarters.

He said this at the weekend when fielding questions from journalists while receiving the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport on his way to Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

Okorocha regretted that were already wrong speculations about the money, adding that he would turn Imo into another London if he gets as much as N80 billion. He stressed that N13 billion would only pay two months workers and pensions salaries.

In his words: “The truth is that the Federal Government owes the state as it has been said. For Imo State, it is N13.5 billion coming to the state and not N80 billion as it is being alleged. With N80 billion, I will change Imo to London.

“The N80 billion is actually the amount being owed the state, but it is not what was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for payment. There is a complete misinformation on the issue of the Paris Club refund.”