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The Federal Government’s move to reimburse Yobe State ₦100.5 billion for the construction of the Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport in Damaturu has reopened an important conversation about public investment, accountability and the responsibilities of government to its citizens. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has requested legislative approval for the promissory note programme, with the proposal now before the National Assembly for consideration. The reimbursement is therefore not yet a completed transaction. Nevertheless, its implications deserve public scrutiny now, not after the money arrives.
When former Governor Ibrahim Gaidam initiated the airport project, questions were raised across Yobe about its necessity, cost and potential for financial mismanagement. Under Governor Mai Mala Buni, the project was completed and developed into an international cargo airport. For some, the development represents an ambitious investment in infrastructure, for others, it remains an expensive undertaking whose wider economic value must be demonstrated. These differing perspectives should not be dismissed. They are part of the legitimate public debate that accompanies major public expenditure.
However, the conversation must now move beyond whether the airport should have been built. With the Federal Government pursuing its takeover and reimbursement arrangement, the more consequential question is what Yobe State will do with the resources recovered from this investment.
₦100.5 billion is a substantial sum for a state confronting persistent development challenges. Its effective use could support improvements in basic education, primary healthcare, water and sanitation, agricultural productivity, vocational training and employment opportunities for young people. It could also strengthen social protection for vulnerable households and expand access to essential services in underserved communities.
Yet, the availability of money does not automatically translate into development. The difference lies in the quality of public decisions, the discipline of implementation and the strength of accountability mechanisms. Without these, even substantial public resources can produce limited benefits for ordinary citizens.
This is why the issue should concern civil society organisations, journalists, professional associations, community leaders and citizens across Yobe. Their responsibility is not to celebrate every government decision uncritically or condemn public investments without evidence. It is to ask reasonable questions, examine available information and insist that public resources deliver measurable value.
The state government should begin by communicating clearly how the reimbursement will be treated within its public finances. Once the funds are received, citizens should be able to establish how much has been paid, when it was received, how it has been incorporated into the budget and what spending priorities have been approved. Any proposed supplementary budget or reallocation should follow the applicable legal and legislative procedures.
Furthermore, the government should publish a clear framework identifying priority investments, expected costs, implementation timelines and measurable outcomes. Procurement processes should be transparent, while project implementation and expenditure should be subject to independent audit and accessible public reporting. Civil society organisations and the media should have sufficient information to track commitments against actual delivery.
These demands are not an expression of hostility towards the government. They are essential elements of responsible governance. Accountability protects public institutions, strengthens citizens confidence and helps ensure that development priorities are not displaced by political interests.
For citizens, the task is equally important. Public engagement must extend beyond social media reactions and occasional expressions of outrage. It should involve examining budgets, attending public consultations, questioning elected representatives, monitoring projects and demanding explanations when commitments are not fulfilled. Citizens must also recognise that accountability requires evidence, fairness and sustained engagement rather than speculation or partisan sentiment.
The airport may ultimately become a strategic asset for trade, logistics and economic activity in Yobe. Its long-term value, however, should be assessed not only by the infrastructure constructed but also by the economic opportunities it creates and the public benefits it generates.
The proposed reimbursement presents Yobe with an important opportunity, but its real significance will depend on what follows. The state should not merely receive the money, it should convert the opportunity into tangible improvements in people’s lives.
The central question is no longer simply what the airport cost, but what the people of Yobe will gain from the resources it returns to the state.
The jubilation, scepticism and public debate surrounding this development should therefore lead to one common demand: transparency in public finance and results in public service. In the end, the true measure of this ₦100.5 billion moment will not be the size of the reimbursement, but the lives improved through its responsible use.
Zanna Samaila,
Damaturu, Yobe State
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