Borno Govt Gets N16.7bn Refund For Roads

Federal government has approved a refund of N16.7 billion to the Borno State government for road projects executed by the state on behalf of the federal government.

The senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the presidential memorandum was approved by the meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said a debt sustainability analysis would be carried out by the Debt Management Office and approval obtained from the National Assembly before the money is paid to the state government.

He said, “Council approved the President’s memo for the reimbursement of funds spent by the Borno State government for federal road projects in the total sum of N16, 772, 486.19 which will be processed after a debt sustainability analysis has been carried out by the Debt Management Office (DMO), leading to the issuance of debt instrument and promissory notes in the same value to be approved by the National Assembly.”

During his briefing, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Adeleke Mamora, disclosed that the Council approved a National Technology Action Plan for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Nigeria’s most vulnerable sectors.

He said due to the devastating effects of climate change, it has become necessary for nations to start taking actions geared towards mitigation and adaptation and Nigeria cannot be left behind.

Also, the Ministry of Transportation presented two memoranda for various Public-Private Partnership projects.

Sambo said the first of them will address access to potable water in the Lagos port complex in Apapa and the Tincan Island ports.

 Also, the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, said his ministry obtained approvals for three memoranda, including one for a variation and additional costs on contract for procurement of security and safety operations equipment at Maiduguri International Airport, amounting to about N2,636,340471.

For the other two approvals, Sirika said, “The second memorandum is the procurement of firefighting vehicles, the vehicles and tubs, spares, training of operators, transportation, clearing and the rest of it. These firefighting trucks’ total cost is N7,103,707,500, with 7.5%VAT. Delivery time is 12 months and the number of trucks is five units for airport rescue.