Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has alleged that certain government cabals are fighting her because she refused to approve a $500 million World Bank loan request.
On July 10, 2024, the Minister had a dispute with the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development at the National Assembly Complex. She was called to clarify issues bordering siphoning funds meant for contracts to the tune of N1.5 billion.
In an interview with THISDAY, Minister Uju revealed that her life is under threat because she declined to sign a $500 million loan and a previous $100 million loan saying the loans ‘’include a 40% kickback for World Bank staff in Nigeria disguised as consultation fees.’’
She maintained that she does not consent to the misappropriation of public funds for unimportant issues that are of no benefit to the people.
THISDAY quoted the Minister, Kennedy-Ohanenye Uju saying “There is a $500 million loan that was meant to be signed by me, but I refused to sign. There was also a case of $100 million earlier as well. Find out what it was meant for.
“All the loans they collect, including World Bank loans, etc, are you aware that the same World Bank staff in Nigeria takes back 40 percent and calls it consultation fees?
“These are things you people should look into. You people should focus on where the problem is and let them leave me alone.”
She added: “Now my life is at stake because I refused to sign the $500 million loan. Let me tell you, if I sign that loan today, I am entitled to five percent of the money, but I refuse to sign it. It is part of why the National Assembly and all of them are after me.
“And that 40 percent they take is a secret, I found it out. Why should anybody give us a loan and you still direct us on how to use the loan, and you take 40 percent and provide us with a consultant that will take it, and they will take it?
“I told them $100 million is too much to use to teach our women how to save money, we can teach them, let them bring the $100 million and give it to those women and use it to know what to do with their lives.
“Let me do things that would impact the lives of the people. I made sure that the action plan Plam’’