REPS APPROVE ₦100.51BN REIMBURSEMENT TO YOBE FOR DAMATURU AIRPORT

The House of Representatives has approved a ₦100.51 billion promissory note programme to reimburse the Yobe State Government for constructing the Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport in Damaturu.

The approval followed the adoption of recommendations by the House Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management, which reviewed the Federal Government’s request to settle the outstanding liability arising from its takeover of the airport.

The committee’s chairman, Abubakar Nalaraba, disclosed the decision at the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday. He said the committee conducted due diligence, including an inspection of the facility, before recommending approval of ₦100,509,017,234.55.

According to Nalaraba, officials from the Federal Ministries of Aviation and Finance provided technical assessments and supporting documents during the review. The committee also examined contract agreements, certificates of completion, evidence of payments to contractors and documentation confirming compliance with procurement procedures.

The committee reported that the Federal Ministry of Aviation had inspected the completed airport and confirmed that the quality of the work met the required standards for federal takeover. The Bureau of Public Procurement also certified that due process had been followed.

President Bola Tinubu had requested the National Assembly’s approval for the reimbursement in a letter read during the House’s plenary session on October 13. The Federal Executive Council had approved the airport’s takeover and reimbursement in May 2023.

Lawmakers said the airport could become an important cargo hub for the North-East, particularly for transporting agricultural produce and raw materials from Yobe and neighbouring states to domestic and international markets.

The proposed reimbursement is intended to settle the cost already incurred by the state government, rather than provide new construction funding. Under the arrangement, the Federal Government would assume responsibility for the airport’s future management and development.

The long-term economic benefits will depend on the airport’s ability to attract cargo operators, sustain commercial activity and improve market access for farmers and businesses across the region.