Senate approves Buhari’s request to borrow $22.7 billion

The senate has approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to borrow $22.7 billion.

The upper legislative chamber okayed the request on Thursday amid objections from some senators.

The recommendations of the Committee are APPROVED.#TodayInSenatePlenary

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) March 5, 2020

While the matter was being debated, Enyinnaya Abaribe, minority leader, warned against considering all the recommendations on the loan at once.

He suggested that it should be done “item by item”, but Senate President Ahmad Lawan disagreed with him.

…refusal to pay the sum of N11,063,916,000 (Eleven Billion, Sixty-Three Million, Nine Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Naira) compensation for oil spillage caused by its facilities from 1998 – 2012;

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) March 5, 2020

Buhari sent the loan request to the senate in 2019 though it was rejected by the previous senate under Bukola Saraki.