Senate Turns Down Buhari’s $700m Loan Request For Water Project

The Senate  has  rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s $700 million loan request for water project.

Members of Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt, who kicked against President Buhari’s request for Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) under the  Ministry of Water Resources, agreed to summon the Minister of Water Resources, Adamu Suleiman to give explanation on the loans and state of loans collected so far.

The lawmakers  asked the Ministry to furnish the Committee with update of loans collected so far for the Water Projects in the Ministry.

The chairman of the Committee, Senator Clifford Ordia, noted that three different loans have been approved for various water projects.

Ordia further noted that in the Ministry, there is “$450 million water project being financed by Africa Development Bank and another $6 million loan under integrated program for Development also financed by Africa Development Bank and Gurara water project.

“You need to tell us what you are doing with $700 million for water projects.”

Senator Obinna Ogba, who kicked against granting approval for the loan, noted that some loans were collected for water projects and yet no result, adding, “this loan, I don’t support this one again, enough is enough.”

Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe asked what is the criteria for selecting benefiting states, adding that details provided by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry is not enough to justify the loan.