Senator Udoma Udo Udoma
The Ministry of Budget and National Planning has weighed in on the controversies over the 2016 budget on Tuesday, affirming that the controversial Lagos-Calabar rail project was included in the amended budget submitted to the National Assembly.
Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, the Minister of National Planning however agree that the rail project was not included in the initial proposals which he acknowledged was full of errors.
James Akpandem, Media Adviser to the Minister who signed the statement on his behalf however said the presidency has not taken any decision on the budget.
“With reference to the specific issue of the Calabar–Lagos rail project, we will like to state that the two railway projects, Lagos–Kano and the Calabar–Lagos, are very important projects of the present administration; and it was always the intention of the Executive to have both projects reflected in the budget submitted to the National Assembly.
“These errors were all corrected by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and the corrected versions were submitted to the relevant committees of the National Assembly. This included that of the Ministry of Transportation.
“The amended Ministry of Transportation budget was accepted by the relevant committees and that was the version defended by the Minister of Transportation and his team.
“It must be emphasized that the two rail projects are part of those for which the President is currently negotiating funding with the Chinese government.
“The N60b provided in the budget for the Lagos – Kano and Calabar – Lagos rail lines, respectively, is counterpart funding, to support the Chinese financing for the projects.
“These projects are part of the Strategic Implementation Plan of the government which was disclosed by the Minister of Budget and National Planning at the National Economic Council Retreat in March 2016, in the presence of state …Read More
Source:: PM Newspaper
