The Senate, on Tuesday, approved promissory notes on the refund of over N25 billion to the Governments of Kebbi and Nasarawa States.
The money was spent by the states on the construction of airport projects in their respective domains on behalf of the Federal Government, according to the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts.
This came as the senator representing Kogi-East, Sen. Isah Jibrin, lobbied colleagues that a similar gesture should be extended to his state when the state government would have completed the construction of an international airport in Zariagi, Kogi State.
While the Kebbi state government spent over N15.1bn on the construction of the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin-Kebbi, the Nasarawa state government invested more than N9.5bn on the Lafia Cargo Airport.
Tuesday’s session when the notes were approved was presided over by the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Barau Jibrin.
The resolution was reached after senators considered and adopted the report of the committee, titled, “Promissory note programme for the refund to Kebbi State and Nasarawa State Government on the newly constructed airport projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.”
The report was presented on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko by Sen. Haruna Manu, the vice chairman of the committee.
The panel noted in its observations and findings that the Kebbi and Nasarawa state governments duly completed all the projects for which they were seeking a refund.
The committee stated that the airport projects were constructed in line with the contract specifications and would stand the test of time.
The panel said that a series of inspection visits were carried out by the Federal Ministry of Aviation on the two airports completed by the states and “ascertained that the quality of work done met the required standard.”
The report also said that the two state governments had paid all the contractors that executed the projects.
It said, “The proposed amount due for reimbursement to Kebbi State Government as reviewed by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) is N15,137,336,095.88, for construction of Sir, Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, project by the Kebbi State Government.
“The sum of N9,542,651,786.11 be reimbursed to Nasarawa State Government for the construction of Lafia Cargo Airport.
“That the Federal Bureau of Public Procurement has ascertained and certified that due process was followed accordingly.”
In the case of Kogi state, the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development had on October 9, conveyed its approval of the plan by the administration of Governor Usman Ododo to build an International Airport in Zariagi.
While making his contribution to the discussion on the approvals made for Kebbi and Nasarawa, Sen. Jibrin said he supported the Senate’s decision in the hope that a similar gesture would be extended to his state soon.
Senators approved the recommendations of the committee when they were put to voice vote by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin who presided over plenary.
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