Reps approve N24bln refund to Kebbi, Nasarawa for airports’ takeover

The House of Representatives has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to refund N24 billion to the Kebbi and Nasarawa State Governments for the takeover of two airports built by the states.

In a letter to the House Speaker, Mr. Tajudeen Abbas, on May 16, the President urged the legislative chamber to refund N15bn and N9bn to the Kebbi and Nasarawa State Governments, respectively, for the costs incurred in the construction of airports in their states, Persecondnews recalls.

Kebbi State invested N15 billion in building the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi, while Nasarawa State spent N9 billion on constructing the Lafia Cargo Airport.

The letter reads: “Establishment of a promissory note programme in favour of the Kebbi and Nasarawa State governments for the reimbursement of the respective costs of the construction of newly-built airports in those states that had been taken over by the Federal Government.

“The House of Representatives is invited to note that at the Executive Council meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, which was held on the 23rd day of May 2023, it was approved as follows:.

“That a promissory note in the sum of N9,000,542,651,786.11 be issued to the Nasarawa State Government as a refund for the takeover of the newly constructed Nasarawa Airport.

“That a promissory note in the sum of N15,137,336,95.88 only be issued to Kebbi State State Government as a refund for the takeover of the Birnin Kebbi International Airport.”

The house on Thursday dissolved into a Committee of Supply to consider the report on the request as submitted by the Chairman, Committee on Aids, Loans, and Debts Management, Re. Abubakar Nalaraba, and granted the approval.

The approved refunds amount to N15.14 billion for Kebbi State and N9.54 billion for Nasarawa State, as per their respective claims.