Former aides of Nasir El-Rufai have spoken out against accusations of mismanagement and corruption during his time as governor of Kaduna State. They refuted claims that El-Rufai’s administration misused N423bn of state funds and emphasized that loans were negotiated for the development of the state, with many not yet disbursed by the time El-Rufai left office in May 2023.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly had set up a committee to investigate the finances of the previous administration and recommended further investigation by security agencies. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was subsequently tasked with looking into the matter.
The former aides highlighted loans such as the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project and the Kaduna Special Agro-Processing Zone, which had not been disbursed before the change in government. They also clarified discrepancies in loan amounts and funding allocation, pointing out achievements in education and infrastructure improvement projects.
Overall, the statement aimed to set the record straight about the handling of state funds and projects under El-Rufai’s administration, expressing pride in the progress made for the development of Kaduna State.