Niger Assembly Steps Down N50bn Loan by The Executive

Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Niger State House of Assembly yesterday stepped down the request by Governor Muhammad Umaru Bago to access a N50 billion loan offered by the Union Bank Plc

The loan is for the establishment of agricultural food parks and farm estates in parts of the state.

The assembly, however, approved the request of the governor to access N15 billion contract financing facility offered by Access Bank PLC for the takeoff of the newly established Abdulkadir Kure University, in Minna.

Governor Bago,  in a letter to the House of Assembly, said that the first  facility would support the state government initiative for the actualisation of its green economy policy and create value chain for farm produce to ensure bumper harvest and food security for the state and the country.

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Mohammed Sarkin-Daji, at the plenary said that the House, as the representative of the people, should be furnished with details of every kobo of the loan and how the governor intended to expend the funds.

“It will not be business as usual” the speaker declared while contributing to the debate on the matter.

The Committee on Finance said in its report that the executive did not present enough evidence on how it intended to spend the fund, hence the need for more time to ensure due diligence.

Other members argued that the executive should be specific on where the agricultural food parks and farm estates would be located and the roles local governments would play in the whole programme.