Tinubu requests Senate approval for $8.6 billion, €100 million loans for projects

Tinubu requests Senate approval for $8.6 billion, €100 million loans for projects

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has requested that the Senate authorize him to borrow $8,699,168,559 and €100 million to fund important projects around the country.

The president’s appeal was contained in a letter delivered by Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the start of plenary on Tuesday.

Tinubu said in the letter that the request was part of the federal government’s 2022-2024 foreign borrowing strategy, which had been approved by previous President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

He said the projects to be funded with the loan cuts across different sectors of the economy, and were selected based on economic evaluation and the expected contribution to the country’s development.

The letter reads, “I write in respect of the above subject and to submit the attached the federal government 2022-2024 external borrowing plan for consideration and early approval of the National Assembly to ensure prompt implementation of the projects.

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“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 projects cut 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.”

Tinubu requests Senate approval for $8.6 billion, €100 million loans for projects