In its latest public statement, FENRAD tackled the administration of Governor Alex Otti for what it described as an alarming rise in the state's debt burden, citing foreign loans reportedly taken without adequate public disclosure.
The organisation referenced the recently proposed ₦750 billion 2025 budget, which outlines that over ₦364 billion — more than half of the entire budget — would be funded through borrowing. According to FENRAD, a significant portion of this would come from external sources, including a $125 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank and another from the African Development Bank.
“These borrowings raise serious questions about sustainability and transparency,” the group said, adding that “the people of Abia deserve to know the terms, purpose, and repayment plans attached to these loans.”
This isn’t the first time FENRAD has taken the state government to task. In May 2024, the group invoked the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act to request the release of a forensic audit detailing how ₦107.2 billion in contracts was allegedly mismanaged under the previous administration led by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
Earlier in February 2025, FENRAD also demanded full disclosure of how ₦54 billion meant for public schools was spent during the last quarter of 2024, citing concerns of misappropriation.
While the Abia State Government has yet to officially respond to these allegations, FENRAD insists that transparency, public engagement, and fiscal responsibility must be central to governance—especially when dealing with loans that future generations will bear responsibility for.
The civic organisation is calling on the state government to publish a comprehensive debt profile, disclose all loan agreements, and engage in open dialogue with the public to ensure accountability.