By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
DETAILS of how the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and some of his colleagues allegedly padded the N500 billion palliative budget by over N200 billion have emerged.
It was gathered that the budget padding was executed during the amendment of the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act.
Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, and Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly called Yayi, were said to be the major architects of the budget padding.
They were said to have allegedly inserted over N200 billion into the budget for projects that were not originally included in what Tinubu presented to them.
It was, for instance, gathered that N1 billion was suddenly earmarked for the “supply of tricycles (Keke NAPEP) to the underprivileged in the society,” N2 billion to the “construction of public buildings in various communities and villages,” N4 billion for the rehabilitation and construction of selected critical roads and N2 billion earmarked for the “construction of block of three classrooms with furniture and toilet,” among others, in some selected communities.
Some other projects allegedly inserted in the budget included the construction of Edi Road, Sabo Market and Ilaro Township Road, Yewa South, Ogun State; N1 billion for the construction of roads in Imeko, Afon, Iwoye and Obada, Ogun State; N1 billion for the construction of Ilashe-Agbara Road, Agbara Ado Odo-Ota in Ogun; N1 billion for the construction of market square -Fadama Ring Road, Imasayi, Yewa North and Ota Lafenwa Road section 1, Ota, Ogun State.
Others were:
-N800 million for police barracks, Old Baggage Link Road, Ode Ogun Idiroko, Ogun State
-N700 million for the construction of some rural roads in Ikot Ekpene LGA, Akwa Ibom to enhance agricultural output
-N1.25 billion for the construction of some rural roads in Essien Udim LGA to improve farm produce
-N1.25 billion for the construction of Afama Ikot Ebak, Ikot Akpan Essiet, Ura Kpan Ikot Ukpang and Ikot Ebie OkonRoads to boost agricultural output N1.25 billion
-N400 million for the construction of Ibi Akpan-Not Akan/Old Federal Government College Roads to boost farm produce
-N1.25 billion for the construction of some rural roads in Abiakpo Ikot Essien-Ikono to ease the movement of farm produce
-N1 billion for enhancing agricultural output by constructing all-in-one solar street lights on some roads in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Abak LGA and Essien Udim
-N2 billion for the repair of flood-prone sections along Abuja-Keffi expressway (Abuja bound) from Km 0+000 – Km 9+400 and construction of township road in Bare-Bari Bauya and Lailai in Yobe State
-N1 billion for the supply of brand-new Toyota/Lexus Jeeps
-N1 billion for the supply and installation of 300 KVA/500KVA transformers and electrification in selected towns and villages
-N2 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of critical roads in south-south and southeast of the country
-N2.5 billion for the construction and maintenance of critical roads linking selected towns
-N2.5 billion for the provision of 3 x 300 KVA solar mini-grid and solar streetlights in selected communities
-N3 billion for mini-grid and other solar-powered installations on selected locations and roads
-N3 billion for the construction of roads and other infrastructure in some selected areas
-N3 billion for the reconstruction/construction of classrooms and provision of furniture in areas affected by flood and some selected areas
-N2 billion to repairs on flood-prone sections along Abuja-Keffi Expressway
-N900 million for the rehabilitation of Dan Fodiyo Teaching Hospital Annex Argungu Phase 1 in Kebbi State
-N1 billion for the construction of Section I of Iyin-Ilawe Ekiti State
-N1 billion for the construction of Section II of Iyin-Ilawe Ekiti State
-N1 billion for the construction of inner roads in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State
-N1 billion for the construction of inner roads in Ijero Ekiti, Ekiti State
-N70 billion for the provision of operational vehicles for members, office equipment, furniture fittings and other capital items for the 10th National Assembly.
However, reports claimed that Senator Ali Ndume and some other senators opposed the budget padding, but Akpabio and his allies had their way.
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