The Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt chaired by Senator Uba Sani on Wednesday, expressed dissatisfaction with President Buhari’s request to borrow $700 million for the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, SURWASH, under the Ministry of Water Resources in 2022.
The rejection comes less than 24 hours after a sum of a $200 million loan was requested by the Ministry of Health for procurement of Mosquito nets, which was contained in the budget proposal presented to the Senate.
The Senate committee frowned the administration’s propensity to taking more loans, even as Nigeria was struggling at servicing other loans.
Senator Clifford Ordia stated that three different loans have been approved for various water projects.
Ordia said: “$450 million for the Ministry for the water project being financed by the 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.”
The Committee therefore agreed to summon the Minister of Water Resources, Adamu Suleiman to appear to give explanation on the loans and state of loans collected so far.
Another member of the Committee, Senator Obinna Ogba, vehemently kicked, arguing that Nigerians haven’t been enjoying water despite huge loans gotten in the past.
He said, “this loan, I don’t support this one again, enough is enough.”
