Airport Construction: Tinubu Okays N24bn Reimbursement for Kebbi, Nasarawa

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja 

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve the reimbursement of over N15 billion to the Kebbi State Government.

The fund was used by the state for the construction of Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi.

The president also asked the Senate to approve N9 billion for the Nasarawa State Government as the  refund for the construction of the Lafia Cargo Airport, Nasarawa. 

Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter read by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during plenary Wednesday.

The president explained that the Federal Government had taken over the control and ownership of the two airports, which necessitated the reimbursement to the state governments. 

The president explained that the decision was based on the fact that “aviation, including airports, safety of aircraft and carriage of passengers and goods by air” are owned and managed by the Federal Government as contained in the item three of the second schedule of the 1999 constitution, as amended

He noted that aviation is listed under the exclusive legislative list, which gives the Federal Government sole authority to take over the ownership. 

The president also said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had also approved the reimbursement of the funds at its meeting last May through the issuance of provisory laws.

Part of the letter read: “Establishment of promissory notes programme in favour of Kebbi and Nasarawa State governments for the reimbursement of the respective cost of construction of newly built airports in those states which have been taken over by the Federal Government. 

“The Senate 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 N9,542,651,786.11 only be issued to Nasarawa State Government as 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 government as refund for the takeover of Birnin Kebbi International Airport. 

“The Senate may wish to note that by the provisions of item three of the second schedule of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, aviation, including airports, safety of aircraft and carriage of passengers and goods by air, fall under the exclusive legislative list.

“The impact of this is that ownership, regulation and control of airports in Nigeria are exclusive to the Federal Government.

“In light of the above, I urge the Senate to consider and grant concurrent approval for the establishment of the promissory notes programme in favour of Kebbi and Nasarawa State governments respectively as prescribed in paragraph two above.”