Airport Takeover: Reps Approve N24bn Refund to Kebbi, Nasarawa
The House of Representatives has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request for a refund of about N24bn to Kebbi and Nasarawa state governments meant for the takeover of two airports originally built by both states.
The lawmakers made this approval on Thursday.
On May 16, 2024, the President addressed a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, asking it to okay the refund of N15bn and N9bn to the Kebbi and Nasarawa State governments.
The refunds covered the construction costs of the airports in their respective states.
Kebbi state government spent N15bn to construct the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in the state capital, Birnin Kebbi, while the Lafia Cargo Airport in Nasarawa cost the state government N9bn.
“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 letter from the President read.
On the request as submitted by the Chairman, Committee on Aids, Loans and Debts Management, Abubakar Nalaraba, the House Committee of Supply considered the report and approved it.
Kebbi will get a refund of N15.14bn, while Nasarawa will get a refund of N9.54bn.
