By Ahmed Rahma
In regards to federal government roads rehabilitated by five of the 36 states of the federation, the House of Representative has approved the request of President Muhammadu Buhari to refund the N148.14 billion (an equivalent of $389 million) used to carry out the projects by the respective state government.
The approval for the refund was given on Wednesday during a plenary on the floor of the green chamber of the National Assembly.
This was in concurrence with the Senate, which earlier granted Mr Buhari’s request for the refund on Tuesday after the Chairman Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Mr Clifford Ordia, presented his report to his colleagues.
The states getting the refund are Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Osun, and Ondo.
At the House of Representatives yesterday, it was agreed that the federal government can issue promissory notes and bonds for the payment of the N148 billion to the states.
A breakdown showed that Bayelsa is to get N38.4 billion, Cross River will receive N18.39 billion, Ondo is expected to get N7.82 billion, Osun will receive N4.56 billion, while and Rivers will get N78.95 billion.
Recall that recently, the Minister of Information, Mr Lai Mohammed, warned that any state which fails to secure the nod of the federal government before embarking on similar projects will not be reimbursed.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Adedapo Adesanya