The Senate has approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for a refund of N148,141,969,161.24 to Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Osun and Ondo state governments for projects executed on behalf of the Federal government.
The approval followed the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, chaired by Senator Clifford Ordia (Edo Central).
Senator Ordia, in his presentation, stated that most of the Federal highways in the beneficiary states where projects were executed “were at a deplorable state before the intervention of the State governments.”
Odia said: “Series of visits were carried out by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on all Federal Roads completed by the States and ascertained that the quality off work done met the required standard.”
The lawmaker, however, noted that states like Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa and Ondo embarked on the highway projects execution as far back as 2005 to date.
He added that while the State governments have completed all projects, as well as paid all contractors, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) on its part certified that due process was followed accordingly.