Obasanjo
Reps to probe former president’s $5M Lake Chad grant
According to the House, the money was given to the commission to
carry out “feasibility studies on how to direct rivers to the lake,” but
not much was heard about the money after it was released.
The House of Representatives has begun an
investigation into how a sum of $5 million, which was given to the Lake
Chad Basin Commission by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration was spent.
The investigation began on Thursday, December 17, 2015, according to a report by Punch.
According
to the House, the money was given to the commission to carry out
“feasibility studies on how to direct rivers to the lake,” but not much
was heard about the money after it was released.
“The
House is aware that the percentage contribution towards the
commission’s annual budget is 40 per cent by Nigeria; 18 per cent by
Libya; 20 per cent by Cameroon; seven per cent by Niger; 11 per cent by
Chad and four per cent by Central African Republic,” a resolution by the House read.
“The
House is informed that the sum of $5m was released by the
administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the commission
for feasibility studies on how to divert rivers from the Central African
Republic to Lake Chad, which was drying up, in addition to funding the
Lake Chad Basin Commission’s annual budget through the funding formula,
to which Nigeria contributes 40 per cent.
“The
House regrets that transaction of this magnitude paid for with tax
payers’ money has not been given the due attention it deserves by way of
follow-up,” the resolution added.
Following the resolution, House Speaker, Yakubu Dogara ordered the committee in charge to conduct the investigation and produce a report within eight weeks.
Comments