Tinubu seeks National Assembly’s approval for $8.6bn, €100m loan
The Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has sought approval of the National Assembly to obtain another loan facility of $8.69 billion and €100 million as part of the 2022-2024 external borrowing plan of the federal government.
Penpushing reports that Tinubu said the new loan request will be used to finance infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, water supply, security and employment as well as financial management reform
The request was contained in a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, during the plenary sessions on both chambers on Tuesday.
Penpushing further reports that Tinubu’s request is coming a day before he is billed to present the 2024 budget to the National Assembly, while in the letter, he stated that the loan was first requested during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari under the 2022 – 2024 external borrowing plan.
The President emphasized that the loan is necessary in order to make his administration fulfill its promises, stating that it the senate may wish to note that the past administration approved a 2022-2024 borrowing plan by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) held on May 15, 2023.
“I write in respect of the above subject and to submit the attached federal government 2022-2024 external borrowing plan for consideration and early approval of the National Assembly to ensure prompt implementation of the projects’, the letter reads.
‘The senate may wish to note that the past administration approved a 2022-2024 borrowing plan by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) held on May 15, 2023. The project cuts across all sectors, with specific emphasis on infrastructure, agriculture, health, water supply, roads, security, and employment generation as well as financial management reforms.
‘Consequently, the required approval is in the sum of $8,699,168,559 and €100 million. I would like to underscore the fact that the projects and programmes in the borrowing plan were selected based on economic evaluations as well as the expected contribution to the social economic development of the country, including employment generation, and skills acquisition’.
‘Given the nature of these facilities, and the need to return the country to normalcy it has become necessary for the Senate to consider and approve the 2022- 2024 external abridged borrowing plan to enable the government deliver its responsibility to Nigerians.”
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