Budget and Economic Planning Minister Atiku Bagudu has said the Federal Government through the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund had approved over N350 billion to support dams and expand other facilities across Nigeria.
Bagudu said this while addressing reporters after condoling with former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman AbdulRasheed Bawa on the passing of his mother yesterday in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital.
“The flooding is a dramatic change. It is a global challenge. We saw what happened in Borno, among other states. If you watch the footages coming from around the world, particularly in Europe, you will see a lot of flooding incidents.
“Climate change is real. Luckily enough, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu recognised it and took proactive steps, ensuring that money was given to states.
“A number of interventions have been approved by the President, in addition to numerous timely releases of Federal Allocation Account (FAC) money.
“The Federal Government allocated N3 billion to each state of the federation to mitigate the effects of flooding.
“Governor Nasiri Idris of Kebbi State has told me that the state has taken possession of its share of the fund.
“The Federal Government had, in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) last week, approved over N350 billion under the President’s Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund to support dams and expansion of irrigation facilities”, he said.
Bagudu also said FEC had approved N900 billion for the Kebbi component of the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, saying: “It is the single biggest contract awarded under the current administration”.
According to him, there is another approval for the construction of Zaria-Kala-Kala road in Koko/Besse Local Government Area of the state.
The road, Bagudu said, joins other roads, particularly the awarded Melando–Warra in Birnin Yauri, Ngaski Local Government Area of the state.
“Kebbi is blessed. We are lucky that infrastructural projects, among other numerous interventions in agriculture, animal husbandry, hospitals, and schools, will complement the ongoing developmental projects taking place in the state”, he said.
