Women affairs minister, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye
The World Bank has addressed the allegations reportedly made against its officials by Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs.

Recently, Arise Television reported that the minister accused certain unnamed government officials of retaliating against her for her refusal to endorse a $500 million loan from the World Bank. She purportedly claimed that employees of the international financial institution typically receive 40 percent of each loan provided to Nigeria as consultancy fees.

However, the ministry later asserted that the minister did not make such statements, yet both ThisDay newspaper and Arise Television, which initially reported the claims, have not retracted their articles.

The $500 million loan in question is intended for the Ministry of Women Affairs to support various women-focused projects.

In response to an inquiry from PREMIUM TIMES regarding the situation, Mansir Nasir, a senior external affairs officer at the World Bank, characterized the minister’s assertions as inaccurate, stating that the bank does not hire project staff for any of its loan recipients.

The $500 million women’s project

In June 2023, soon after President Tinubu took office, the World Bank declared its endorsement of $500 million for the initiative known as the 'Nigeria for Women Project,' which is now officially designated as the (NFWP-SU).

According to the World Bank, the scale-up financing would facilitate the Nigerian government’s investment in enhancing the socio-economic well-being of Nigerian women.

This initiative is the result of collaboration among the World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.

The initial phase of the project is scheduled to span five years. It is set to commence in six pilot states: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Kebbi, Niger, Ogun, and Taraba, which collectively represent each of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Allegation

In reference to the report, the minister asserted the existence of a $500 million loan that was intended for her signature. However, she declined to sign the loan agreement due to certain ambiguous terms and conditions.

Audience Survey

“There was also a case of $100 million earlier as well. Find out what it was meant for,” Mrs Kennedy-Onanenye was quoted as saying by the news channel.

She said: “All the loans they collect, including World Bank loans, etc, are you aware that the same World Bank staff in Nigeria takes back 40 per cent 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.”

The minister asserted that her life was in jeopardy due to her refusal to sign the $500 million loan agreement with the World Bank.

“Let me tell you, if I sign that loan today, I am entitled to five per cent of the money, but I refused to sign it. It is part of why the National Assembly and all of them are after me,” she further alleged.

U-turn

Nevertheless, several days after she alleged victimization, the minister, in a statement signed by her media aide, Musa Abdulrahaman, refuted the reports concerning the $500 million loan.

She described it as “false,” reports claiming she was being victimised for not signing the loan.

She invited women-affiliated groups and cooperatives to register on the Nigerian Women E-market portal to access the funds and expand their socioeconomic opportunities.

The new statement, however, said the president has “approved restructuring the loan to remove unnecessary expenditures like consultancies, advocacies etc and ensure direct benefits like Socio-Economic Empowerment for the target beneficiaries.”

World Bank speaks

In reference to your inquiry, it is important to clarify that World Bank personnel do not receive a 40% project consultancy fee, nor do government officials collect a 5%.

“In response to your query, please note that World Bank staff do not receive 40 per cent of project funds as “consultation fees” nor are ministers entitled to five per cent of project funds for signing loan agreements. Both assertions are unequivocally false,” Mr Nasir wrote.

“Recruitment of such staff is purely the responsibility of the government ministry in charge of the project.”

The recipient governments are responsible for implementing World Bank-funded projects. These projects are subject to stringent policies designed to safeguard against the misappropriation of funds and guarantee their utilization for their intended purposes.