President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said tardiness in passage of budgets by the National Assembly sometimes lasting several months, delays completion of projects across the country.
Receiving a delegation from Niger State led by Lt. General Garba Duba (Rtd) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Buhari urged the National Assembly to accelerate the budget passage process.
Buhari said the government’s achievements in ensuring better roads, rails, power and repositioning of the airports was in spite of the delays, praying for more understanding and commitment to infrastructure development.
“If the National Assembly takes seven months to pass a budget, then we should be commended for the much that we have achieved, and can still achieve.
“I personally feel very disappointed. I spoke with the leaders of the National Assembly on the issue that seven months is a long time to work on a budget,’’ he was quoted in a statement by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina.
He said ongoing efforts to improve road and rail networks across the country would be increased as infrastructure development remained paramount for improving the livelihood of Nigerians.
Buhari said his administration would pay more attention to the stretch of 2,150km federal roads in the state.
On security, he said, “We cannot manage our communities and societies without security. A lot of resources are being diverted to provide security instead of going into infrastructural development.’’
The president re-assured the delegation that his administration would stay focused on securing lives and property, fighting corruption and stimulating the economy for more progress.
President Buhari said the Minister of Agriculture and governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria had been directed to increase monetary supports through loans to farmers in the next farming season and ensure that farmers are not overwhelmed with the traditional demand for collaterals.
The president commended the Chinese government for accepting to finance 85 per cent of Nigeria’s infrastructure development needs.
In his remarks, General Duba, a former military governor, commended the president for the significant stride in repositioning roads, rails and airports across the country.
He said Niger State still faced challenges of security along Jebba-Mokwa-Birnin Gwari-Kaduna roads, urging the president to reinforce surveillance on the routes and direct more attention on the construction of federal roads in the state.
On the delegation were Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, his predecessor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Etsu Nupe Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, who is also the chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, the three senators from the state, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, David Umaru and Mustapha Sani among others.
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