Osinbajo: We’ve given N1.9tn to states from Paris Club refund

Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo says so far the 36 states of the federation have shared N1.9 trillion as support from the Paris Club refund.

Speaking at the ongoing Ogun investors’ forum in Abeokuta, Osinbajo said that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari administration has continued to extend equal and unbiased support to states of the federation regardless of party affiliations.

“We have been sensitive, attentive and responsive to their needs while our programmes and policies have been developed with the states in mind,” he said.

“The anchor borrowers programme has continued to provide cheap credit to smallholders farmers across the nation. The president’s fertiliser initiative has ensured that farmers across Nigeria have direct access to fertiliser. We have continued to feed about seven million primary school pupils in 21 states of the country.

“The budget support facility to states has gone a long way in cushioning the shock experienced by the federating units which resulted from the sharp drop in prices of crude oil in 2016.

“It would be hard to find a federal government in Nigeria’s recent history that has been as supportive of the development ambitions of the states as the Buhari administration. We have been attentive and responsive to their needs and wishes, and have treated State Governments, regardless of partisan affiliation, as partners, not minions. So far, in terms of support, which includes the Paris Club Refund which Ogun state was owed, we have spent N1.91 trillion on support to the various states.”