Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari is seeking fresh loans of $4,054,476,863 and €710 million in an addendum to the 2018-2020 borrowing plan.
The request was contained in a letter read by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan on the senate floor on Tuesday. The president also asked the national assembly to approve grant components of $125 million.
In July, the national assembly approved the sums of $8.3 billion and €490 million loans contained in the initial 2018-2020 borrowing plan. In the letter, Buhari stressed that the loans were necessary in order to fix ‘critical issues’.
“I write on the above subject and submit the attached addendum to the proposed 2018-2020 external rolling borrowing plan for the consideration and concurrent approval of the senate for the same to become effective,”
“The distinguished senate president may recall that u submitted a request on 2018-2020 borrowing plan for the approval of the senate in May 2021. However, in view of other emerging needs and to ensure that all critical projects approved by FEC as of June 2021 are incorporated, I hereby forward an addendum to the proposed borrowing plan.”
“The projects listed in the external borrowing plan are to be financed through sovereign loans from the World Bank, French Development Agency, EXIM Bank and IFAD in the total sum of $4,054,476,863 and €710 million and grant components of $125 million.”
What are the critical issues that Buhari wants to fix that he cannot name? Are Nigerians set for a repeat of Abacha’s looting spree? Or is Buhari going to use the loans for his retirement? Buhari’s impunity is a result of nobody to question or challenge his actions.
For what