Tinubu seeks Reps’ approval for N100.5bn Yobe Airport reimbursement

President Bola Tinubu has asked the House of Representatives to approve an N100.5 billion promissory note program to reimburse the Yobe State Government for the takeover of the Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Damaturu.

The request was conveyed in a letter read by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen as the House resumed plenary after its annual recess.

Tinubu said the Federal Executive Council, at an extraordinary meeting held on May 23, 2023, approved the takeover of the airport, built by the Yobe State Government, and the reimbursement of its construction cost through a promissory note programme.

In the letter, the President stated: “I write to request the approval of the House of Representatives for the establishment of a promissory note programme for the reimbursement of the Yobe State Government for the takeover of Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Damaturu.”

He said the Bureau of Public Procurement had completed its review of the project and recommended N100,509,017,255 as the amount payable to the state government.

“In the light of the foregoing, I urge the House of Representatives to consider and approve the establishment and issuance by the Debt Management Office a promissory note program in the sum of N100,509,017,255 for the reimbursement of the Yobe State Government for the takeover of Muhammadu Buhari International Airport, Damaturu,” Tinubu said.

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The president urged the lawmakers to consider the request expeditiously.

In a separate development, Tinubu transmitted the National Research Development Fund Bill to the House for consideration, alongside two other bills seeking to incorporate international humanitarian and criminal justice instruments into Nigerian law.

The bills are the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols Bill, 2026, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Enforcement Bill, 2026.

In his letter transmitting the proposals, the President stated: “Pursuant to Section 50A of Section 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I forward herewith the Geneva Convention and Additional Protocols Bill 2026 and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Enforcement Bill 2026 for the kind consideration of the House of Representatives.”

According to Tinubu, the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols Bill, 2026, seeks to repeal the existing Geneva Convention Act and give effect to the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949, and the two Additional Protocols adopted on June 8, 1977.

The proposed law is intended to update Nigeria’s domestic legal framework for implementing its obligations under international humanitarian law, particularly those relating to the protection of people affected by armed conflicts.

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Enforcement Bill, 2026, seeks to give effect to the Rome Statute in Nigeria and provide for the enforcement and punishment of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and related offences.

It also seeks to establish a framework for Nigeria’s cooperation with the International Criminal Court in carrying out its functions.

Speaking on the legislative proposals, Tajudeen assured that the House would give prompt and careful consideration to the bills and other requests submitted by the President.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th Assembly to prioritising important legislative proposals, specifically mentioning the National Research Development Fund Bill and the bills seeking to domesticate the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols.

The Speaker said the proposals relating to the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute had national and diplomatic implications. He noted that the legislation, if passed, would strengthen legal protections for civilians, wounded persons, and prisoners during armed conflicts.

Tajudeen commended Tinubu for submitting the proposals and expressed confidence that the House would fulfill its legislative responsibilities in considering them.