AT A GLANCE: Enugu airport, Maritime University… major projects affected by National Assembly’s cuts

by Frank Ofili · June 22, 2018

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday signed the 2018 budget into law, eight months after he presented the proposal to the national assembly.

In his budget signing speech, the president said the national assembly reduced the provisions for some projects and added 6,403 projects of their own to the budget.

The provisions for the National Housing Programme, Mambilla power plant, Second Niger Bridge, and security infrastructure for Unity schools were slashed.

The takeoff grant for Maritime University and the construction of a terminal building at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, were also affected.

At present, flights cannot operate at night at the Enugu airport because there are no approach lights, which should be installed at both ends of the runway.

Hadi Sirika, minister of state for aviation, has said an upgrade of the airport would result in job creation and investments. However, the president says the national assembly’s actions will delay the completion of the project.

Here are some of the major projects whose provisions got slashed by the national assembly.

PROJECT	REDUCED BY	NEW BUDGET
Construction of the terminal building at Enugu Airport	N1.5 billion	N500 million
Mambilla power plant, Second Niger Bridge, East-West Road, Bonny-Bodo Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Itakpe-Ajaokuta Rail Project	N11.5 billion	N/A
Abuja mass transit rail project, arterial roads	N7.5 billion	N/A
Rehabilitation of United Nations Building, Abuja	N3.9 billion	N100 million
Establishment of chemotherapy centres, upgrade of tertiary health institutions	N7.45 billion	N/A
Security infrastructure for Unity schools	N3 billion	N/A
National housing programme	N8.7 billion	N/A
Pension redemption fund and Public service wage adjustment	N5 billion	N/A
Export Expansion Grant (EEG) and Special Economic Zones/Industrial Parks	N14.5 billion	N/A
Take off grant for Maritime University, Delta state	N1.6 billion	N3.4 billion