Both the Senate and House of Representatives approved Federal Government’s request to refund N16,772,486,002.19 billion to the Borno state government for federal road projects executed by the state.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari had written to the National Assembly last week to approve the amount through promissory note and bond issuance.
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Specifically the approval of the refund by the Senate followed its consideration of report of its Committee on Local and Foreign Debts in plenary on Tuesday by Senator Clifford Ordia (PDP – Edo Central) in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee.
On the other hand, the House approved the refund after it considered a report by its Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon Ahmed Safana Dayyabu presented the report.
Both Ordia and Dayyabu in their separate reports said their committees discovered that all the projects listed by the State Government were actually executed.
Senator Ordia observed that most of Federal roads mentioned were at a deplorable state before the intervention of the Borno State Government.
He added that the Federal Bureau of Public Procurement has ascertained and certified that due process was followed accordingly.
On his part, Dayyabu told the House that the Borno state government began construction of the federal roads in 2014.
He added that out of the roads, only the Damboa-Chibok-Mbalala (30Km) Road Phase I was eligible for reimbursement as it was awarded before the President’s directive of 29th July 2016 which suspended assessment of requests for refund on projects carried out without the Federal Governments approval.
He said the other three projects (Damboa-Chibok-Mbalala Road Phase II, Flyover Bridge at Custom Roundabout, Maiduguri, and Dualisation of the Maiduguri-Dikwa-Gamboru/Ngala Road from Custom Area to Muwa Welcome Gate) awarded by the Borno State Government after the President’s directive, were approved upon a compassionate appeal by the Borno State Government.