TheCable

The “deceitful projects” awarded during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan, former president, are now being funded by the government of president Muhammadu Buhari, the presidency has said.

Garba Shehu, senior special assistant on media and publicity to the president, says some of the projects only existed on paper as no payment was made for their commencement.

Shehu was quoted to have said this on Tuesday in an interview on Express Radio in Kano.

The Kano-Katsina dual road project, he noted, is one of the “ghost” projects of the last administration that are now “being given life”.

“Kano-Katsina dual highway was awarded three years ago by the last administration. They didn’t pay a kobo for its start-up. President Buhari just paid money for the first tranche of 75 kilometers and work has begun apace.”

Shehu said the Buhari administration decided to hasten projects related to infrastructure in order to pump money into the economy and ultimately rescue it from recession.

He disclosed that N750 billion has been released for capital projects in the last five months and added that counterpart funds for the take-off of the $11 billion Kano-Lagos rail project had been paid.

“Without infrastructure, the country will not witness growth,” he said.

Speaking on the recent attacks on oil installations by Niger Delta militants, Shehu said: “We must keep national interest above all else and give priority to eschewing violence and destruction.”

Shehu noted that the government was committed to dialoguing with the militants, who “continue” to destroy national assets.

He also called on Niger Delta leaders to use their influence to ensure “that normalcy returns to the region”.

“Despite the government’s practical demonstration of goodwill by bringing the parties or stakeholders to the round table, the militant groups have continued to blow up national economic assets.”