By Emeka Nze
Abuja
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said contrary to claims by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, Nigeria paid her own sum of $100 million on the 29th of January 2014 through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the beginning of the projects.
A statement by the Spokesman of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye described Adeosu’s claim that Nigeria has not paid $100 million Airport Terminal Counterpart Funding as false, misleading, malicious, saying that the statement was deliberately made with the intention of blackmailing previous PDP led administration as is the hallmark of APC.
“This information like many of her previous statements is false, misleading, malicious and was deliberately made with the intention of blackmailing previous PDP led administration which have been the hallmark of the APC Government.”
Adeyeye recalled that the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2014, awarded the contract of remodeling and building of International Airport Terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu on a ‘Built, Operate and Transfer’ (BOT) basis,
He also recalled that the projects were financed by Chinese EXIM Bank with counterpart funds from Nigeria adding that the contract sum was $500 million while the counterpart funding from Nigeria amounted to $100 million.
The statement further read: “We are pained that the All Progressive Congress (APC) under President Muhammadu Buhari is bent on sacrificing our hard earned democracy on the slab of falsehood by consistently disregarding and denying all the obvious achievements of the 16 years of PDP era and collective successes of Nigerians. Why is that?
“You will recall that the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, in 2014, Awarded the Contract of Remodeling and Building of International Airport Terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu on a ‘Built, Operate and Transfer’ (BOT) basis, financed by Chinese EXIM Bank with counterpart funds from Nigeria. The Contract Total Sum was $500 million with Counterpart Funding of $100 million from Nigeria.
The fact of the matter is that, Nigeria paid her own sum of $100 million on the 29th of January 2014 through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the beginning of the Projects.
“You will also recall that the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Aviation, Hajiya Binta Bello corroborated our position during her interview with Thisday Newspaper on the 14th of September, 2015, where she stated that “Finance was not an impediment, and Nigeria government counterpart funding of $100 million has been paid at the commencement of the Projects.
“She went further to assert that the projects will be completed and delivered at the first quarter of 2016.
“In the light of the above, the claim by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, is not only standing the truth on its head but depicting the habitual lies and deceit the All Progressive Congress (APC) is known for.”
