President Buhari questions finance ministry over diversion of borrowed N119bn

Firstclass newsline gathered that president Muhammadu Buhari on Monday
queried the Ministry of Finance over alleged diversion of foreign
loans obtained for rail projects by the administration of former
President Goodluck Jonathan.
Specifically, the President is seeking clarification on alleged
diversion of a substantial part of a $1.005bn loan obtained from the
Chinese Exim Bank for the construction of a standard gauge rail line
linking Lagos to Kano.
The funds were said to have been moved elsewhere.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity,
Garba Shehu, said this in a statement made available to journalists in
Abuja.
Shehu said Buhari's query followed the visit of the Permanent
Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Alhaji Mohammed Bashar, who briefed
the President on the ministry's activities at the Presidential Villa,
Abuja.
The President was reported to have described as disappointing to find
that foreign loans obtained in line with signed agreements were moved
from one project to another.
"I hope that due process was followed before such diversions were
carried out. Taking money from one project to another has to be done
properly," the President warned.
Bashar was said to have informed the President that only $400m of the
$1.005bn loan remained with the finance ministry. Thus, the remaining
amount in the ministry is $605m (N119.16bn).
The President regretted that government had over the years failed to
meet its counterpart funding obligations on some projects, leading to
such projects being either uncompleted or abandoned.
He added that there was a clear need to "streamline, harmonise and
prioritise ongoing projects in the transportation sector."
Bashar also briefed the President on other challenges facing the
transport and maritime sectors, such as encroachment on railway land,
lack of security on inland waterways and the confused nature of
agreements between the Nigeria Ports Authority and ports
concessionaires.
He later told State House correspondents that the ministry would meet
the December deadline for the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna rail
track.
He said, "The rehabilitation programme of the old gauge lines, as you
are aware, we have completed the Lagos-Kano and it is operational.
Twice a week, people move from Lagos to Kano and back to Lagos.
"We have also recently commenced operation from Kano to Port Harcourt,
and Port Harcourt to Gombe and from Gombe upwards we have some
challenges.
"With regard to Abuja-Kaduna, track has been completely laid and we
are now waiting for locomotives to arrive, which have been ordered and
paid for. Our belief is that we will meet the deadline of December,
2015."
Buhari on Monday appointed a Presidential Advisory Committee against
Corruption. The committee is to be headed by Prof. Itse Sagay, a
professor of law and civil rights activist.
The birth of the PAC is coming at a time three international
development partners floated a $5m Anti-Corruption and Criminal
Justice Reform Fund in support of the Federal Government.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi
Adesina, disclosed this in a statement.
Adesina said the committee's brief was to advise the administration on
the prosecution of the war against corruption and the implementation
of required reforms in the nation's criminal justice system.
He said the committee would be saddled with the responsibility of
developing comprehensive interventions for achieving the recommended
reforms.
Other members of the committee include a Professor of Criminology,
Ahmadu Bello University, Femi Odekunle; an Associate Professor of
International Law, University of Jos, Benedicta Daudu; Professor of
Sociology, University of Jos, E. Alemika; Professor of Criminology,
Bayero University, Kano, Sadiq Radda; a civil society activist, Hadiza
Bala Usman; and Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of
Advanced Legal Studies, who will serve as the committee's secretary.
Adesina's statement added, "In support of the Federal Government's
efforts, an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund has been
established by three international development partners namely the
Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation.
"The $5m fund is to assist implementation of key components of the
Action Plan and the work of the Presidential Advisory Committee.
"The fund will be managed by Trust Africa, an international
development civil society organisation with programme presence in more
than 25 African nations."
Firstclassnewsline.net