The Presidency says it acted in error by adding the Mambilla project among those to benefit from the $311 million loot by late former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, which was recently returned to the country from the US and the Bailiwick of Jersey.
Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, had earlier announced that the project along with second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway, and Lagos-Ibadan expressway would be the beneficiaries.
In a statement released this evening, Shehu said he regretted the erroneous addition of the project for the list as it was not part of the projects to the financed under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
Read the statement below
”The recently repatriated Sani Abacha loot will go towards three of the Federal Government’s five priority projects, excluding the Mambilla power and East-West road projects.
In an earlier statement, I had mistakenly noted that the Mambilla was one of five priority projects to benefit from the $311 million Abacha loot under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). That error is regretted.
Although the Mambilla and East-West expressway are regarded under the PIDF as priority projects, I have ascertained that they are exempt from the agreement signed between the Nigerian, United States and British territory of Jersey governments.
According to the document, only the second Niger bridge, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway, and Lagos-Ibadan expressway will benefit from the repatriated funds. The funds are domiciled in the NSIA.
All print and online media should please take note of this correction and make the necessary adjustments to their previous publications on the issue.” the statement read
