Tinubu Seeks ₦100.5 Billion Refund for Yobe Airport as Nigerians Debate Infrastructure Spending

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the National Assembly to approve a ₦100.5 billion promissory note programme to reimburse the Yobe State Government for constructing the Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport in Damaturu.

The request was conveyed in separate letters to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas as lawmakers resumed plenary on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The proposed reimbursement is intended to compensate the state following the Federal Government’s takeover of the airport project.

TINUBU SEEKS APPROVAL FOR ₦100.5 BILLION REIMBURSEMENT

According to the President, the Federal Executive Council approved the takeover of the airport and reimbursement of its construction cost at an extraordinary meeting held on May 23, 2023.

Tinubu stated that the Bureau of Public Procurement had reviewed the project and recommended approximately ₦100.509 billion as the amount payable to Yobe State. He therefore requested legislative approval for the Debt Management Office to establish and issue a promissory note programme to facilitate the reimbursement.

The Senate referred the request for further legislative consideration. The proposed payment has not yet been confirmed as approved or disbursed, leaving lawmakers to examine the request before any reimbursement can proceed.

₦100.5 BILLION AIRPORT REFUND RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT PUBLIC SPENDING

The proposed reimbursement has brought renewed attention to the cost of major infrastructure projects, the financial relationship between federal and state governments, and the scrutiny applied to public expenditure.

Supporters of the arrangement may argue that reimbursing Yobe State would recognise the state’s investment in an airport that the Federal Government has agreed to take over. However, questions may arise about the project’s final cost, its expected economic returns, the verification process and the long-term implications of the promissory note for public finances.

The key issue for lawmakers is whether the proposed amount and reimbursement arrangement satisfy the necessary legal, financial and procurement requirements. The Bureau of Public Procurement’s reported review provides part of the basis for the request, while legislative scrutiny remains an important step in the approval process. President Tinubu’s request places a proposed ₦100.5 billion reimbursement for Yobe State’s cargo airport before the National Assembly. Although the Federal Executive Council approved the takeover and reimbursement arrangement in 2023, the current request still requires legislative consideration. OGM News NG will continue to follow the National Assembly’s consideration of the proposed reimbursement and other developments affecting public spending in Nigeria.