Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, says the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund has approved more than N350 billion to fund dams and facility expansion across Nigeria.
Bagudu stated this while fielding queries from journalists shortly after expressing his condolences to former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Abul-Rashid Bawa on the death of his mother in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday.
”The flooding is a dramatical change, it is a global challenge, and we saw what happened in Borno, among other states.
”If you watch footages coming from around the world, particularly in Europe, you will see a lot of flooding incidences.
”Climate change is real, lucky enough, President Ahmed Bola-Tinubu, recognised it, and took proactive steps where money was given to states.
”A number of interventions have been approved by the president, in addition to numerous timely release of Federal Allocation Account money.
”The federal government allocated N3 billion to each state of the federation to mitigate the effects of flooding.
”Gov. Nasiri Idris of Kebbi has intimated me that the state has taken possession of its share of the fund.
”The federal government, had in the Federal Executive Council 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 announced that the council has approved N900 billion for the Kebbi component of the Sokoto-Badagry High Way, stating, “It is the single biggest contract awarded under the current administration.”
According to him, the state’s Koko/Besse Local Government has given another sanction for the development of the Zaria Kala-Kala road.
The road, he claimed, connected to other roads, including the granted 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, schools, will compliment the ongoing developmental projects taking place in the state,” Bagudu observed.
He commended Gov. Idris, for his positive impact on uplifting the living standard of the people while steering the affairs of the state.
“I am also praising the governor for taking necessary action to bring relief to all communities affected by flooding and encouraging unrelenting cultivation of crops among farmers for self sufficiency in food production”, the minister said.
