President Bola Tinubu has urged the National Assembly to approve his request to access $7.8 billion and €100 million external loans as contained in the 2022 – 2024 borrowing plan of the federal government.

The request was contained in a letter he sent to both chambers of the National Assembly, which was read at plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Tinubu yesterday urged the National Assembly to approve his request to access $7.8 billion and €100 million external loans as contained in the 2022 – 2024 borrowing plan of the federal government.

The president said the Federal Executive Council under former President Muhammad Buhari had approved the loan facility on May 15, 2023, to finance infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, security and other sectors.

He explained that the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank Group (WBG) had indicated interest to assist the country in mitigating the economic shocks and effects of recent reforms with a sum of $1 billion and $2 billion, respectively.

Part of the letter read, “The Senate is invited to note that following the removal of fuel subsidy and its impact on the economy in the country, the AfDB and the WBG have indicated interest to assist the country in mitigating the economic shocks and recent reforms with a sum of $1 billion and $2 billion, respectively, in addition to the Federal Executive Council approved 2022-2024 external borrowing plan.

“Consequently, the required approval is in the sum of $7,864,508,559 and in terms of euro, €100 million.”

Tinubu said the foreign loans became necessary in order to bridge the financial gap and return the economic activities of the country to normalcy. He noted that if the loan request was granted, the funds would be used to develop infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, water supply, security and employment, as well as financial management reforms.

He said, “The project cuts across all sectors with specific emphasis on infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, water supply, security and employment as well as financial management reforms, among others.

“The total facility of the projects and programmes under the borrowing plan is $7,864,508,559 and €100 million respectively.”

The president added that the projects to be funded with the borrowed fund were selected based on economic evaluation and socio economic development of the country. He said all the projects would be implemented across the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory.

Tinubu said, “I would like to underscore the fact that the projects and programmes borrowing plans were selected based on positive technical economic evaluations as well as the expected contribution to the socio-economic development of the country.

“These include employment generation, skills acquisitions, supporting the emergence of more entrepreneurs, poverty reduction, and food security to improve the livelihood of an average Nigerian.

“The projects and programmes will be implemented in all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

“In view of the present economic realities facing the country, it has become imperative that we resort to using the external borrowing to bridge the financing gap, which will be applied to key infrastructure projects, including power, railway, health, among others

“Given the nature of these facilities and the need to consolidate the country to normalcy, it has become exigent to request the Senate’s consideration and approval of the 2022-2024 external borrowing plans.

“It will enable the government deliver its responsibilities to Nigerians through expeditious disbursement and efficient project implementation.”