[b]The Media Adviser to the Minister on Budget and National Planning Ministry, Akpandem James in a statement said: “To date, budgeted personnel cost and debt service obligations have been fully met on schedule. Additionally, government has done reasonably well in the challenging circumstances with respect to capital expenditures. “It is noteworthy that the total amount of N753.6bn already released for capital expenditure in 2016 is the highest in the nation’s recent history, even in the era of high oil prices. Indeed, the capital releases to date exceed the aggregate capital expenditure budget for 2015 of N700bn, inclusive of capital expenditure in statutory transfers.” It will be recalled that at an interactive session with members of the Senate Committee on Appropriation in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister for Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, had said that in spite of the shortfall in revenue expectations, the government was committed to its debt obligations in addition to funding the critical sectors to enable government function smoothly, while seeking lasting solutions to revenue shortfalls.


Udoma had explained that although the 2016 Budget was well conceived, with reasonably conservative benchmarks, it recorded unanticipated revenue shortfalls along the line due to militants’ activities in the oil-producing Niger Delta region, a development which seriously affected the budgeted production levels for the fiscal year.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has sought an approval to borrow $29.960 billion for proposed projects across the country.

In a letter read by the deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, the president demanded $11.274 for different programmes, $10.686 billion for special national infrastructure projects and Euro Bonds of $4.5 billion.[/b]

Mynd44 , no reliable source quoted

Why is it unbelievable