Senate okays Nigerian government's $1.8 billion for railway projects

Jul 31, 2017: The Nigerian senate has approved the $1.8 billion federal government 2016-2018 external borrowing (rolling) plan for Lagos-Kano railway modernisation project and reconstruction/rehabilitation of the North-East, according to media reports.

It also approved the $750 million medium term external loan requests for six states, out of the federal government 's request of $1.49 billion for 10 states.

The $575 million World Bank loan will be used in the following ways: $125 million for polio eradication support and routine immunisation project, $75 million for community and social development project, and $125 million for Nigeria States Health Programme Investment project.

Others are $100 million for State Education Programme Investment project, $100 million for Nigeria Youth Employment and Social Support Project and $50 million for Fadama III project.

Further breakdown of the approved loans are $70 million from African Development Bank (ADB) for Ebonyi Ring Road Project (to be co-financed by Islamic Development Bank), $200m ADB facility for Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) in Abia State, and $200 million IDB loan for Kano State Integrated Agricultural and Water Resources Development.