Tinubu seeks Senate approval of N24bn to payoff Kebbi, Nasarawa airports

President Bola Tinubu has sought the 10th Senate approval to obtain N15 billion as reimbursement to pay off the Kebbi State government for the construction of Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi.

In addition, Tinubu sought yet another N9 billion as a refund to the Nasarawa State Government for the construction of Lafia Cargo Airport, Nasarawa.

President Tinubu stated that the reason is that the federal government has taken over control and ownership of the two airports, and the states need to be reimbursed.

This was disclosed in a letter read at the plenary sitting by Senator Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday.

In the letter, Mr Tinubu explained that the decision was based on the fact that aviation, including airports, aircraft safety, and passenger and goods carriage by air, are owned and managed by the federal government, as contained in item three of the second schedule of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

He also noted that aviation is listed under the exclusive legislative list, which gives the federal government the authority to take over the ownership.

Meanwhile, the promissory note awaiting approval amounts to N9.5 billion for the Nasarawa State Government and N15.1 billion for the State Government of Kebbi.

In light of the above, I urge the Senate to consider and grant concurrent approval for establishing the promissory notes program in favour of the Kebbi and Nasarawa states governments, respectively, as prescribed in paragraph two above, the letter says, in part.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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