The World Bank states that Anambra State did not express interest in participating in the 2024 HOPE-Governance Programme and therefore was not “disqualified” from receiving any loan facility. Both outlets report that the bank’s position directly counters claims attributed to the Anambra State government, which had described media reports as misleading and suggested the state had been denied the programme due to performance benchmark issues. According to the World Bank, the issue is procedural rather than punitive: Anambra did not submit an application or show interest in the 2024 round of the programme. The World Bank’s confirmation is drawn from its reporting material, including an Implementation Status and Results report. The reports indicate that the bank’s communication is intended to clarify the selection and participation process for the 2024 HOPE-Governance Programme and to correct public understanding of why Anambra was not included. As presented in the articles, the dispute centers on whether Anambra was rejected or whether it simply did not engage with the programme’s application process for that year.