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The Kwara State government says that the proposed N10b loan from commercial banks is a Federal Government-backed-facility designed to revive on-going infrastructural projects in the state which were stalled by lack of funds.
The State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, who gave the clarification during a meeting with stakeholders in Ilorin, said infrastructure projects which were suspended due to drop in federal allocations will resume across the state by the end of the month once the paperwork for the loan is completed and the money released.
Governor Ahmed noted that the N10b loan became imperative because the drop in allocations had made it impossible to continue on-going projects and start new ones as the government could barely afford to pay workers’ salaries without assistance.
Providing further details of the proposed facility, Alhaji Ahmed added that it is a soft loan with affordable repayment and which has been collateralizedagainst the state government’s share of the Excess Crude Account.
He therefore emphasized that the loan will not in anyway impose extra financial burden on the state government or hamper its capacity to meet obligations.
Governor Ahmed commended the Kwara State House of Assembly for approving the loan, an action which he said was based on a shared commitment to enhancing the development of Kwara State despite current financial challenges.
Alhaji Ahmed stressed that the state government’s renewed IGR drive will augment any future shortfalls in allocations from the Federal Government, increase the government’s capacity to develop the state and empower the people on a sustainable basis.
It will be recalled that the federal government recently repackaged the state government’s loans into a long-term bond to reduce loan repayment and free more funds for meeting monthly obligations.
