Buhari Asks Senate To Approve N402 Billion To Settle Debts Owed To Exporters And States

• As Lamido takes Gambo’s place on the board of the Petroleum Upstream Regulatory Commission. 

In two separate letters of request sent to the Senate on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari pleaded with them to approve the issuance of promissory notes worth more than N402 billion.

The first request, for N375 billion, was read aloud in plenary by Senate President Ahmad Lawan and was intended to resolve unpaid claims owed to various exporters.

The letter requested that additional requests for payments on debts with similar terms be sent to the Debt Management Office (DMO).

These amounts total N6.706 billion for the Kebbi State Government to build federal roads in the state and N2.706 billion for the Taraba State Government to build federal roads in that state. 

Lawan also read Buhari’s second request, in which he asked the Senate to approve the release of N18.623 billion to the Kebbi State Government.

In his letter, the president claimed that giving N18.623 billion to the Yobe State Government through the DMO would enable it to recoup all of the funds used to carry out five different federal road projects in the state.

In the two letters, the president pleaded with the senators to act swiftly on his requests.

In a separate letter of request, Buhari asked the Senate to consider Mohamed Sabo Lamido’s appointment as the Executive Commissioner, Finance and Accounts of the Board of Upstream Regulatory Commission for confirmation.

The death of Hassan Gambo, who had previously held that position before his passing, necessitated Lamido’s appointment, the president explained.