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SERAP Calls Out Tinubu On Loan Agreements By Former Presidents
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu “to direct appropriate ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to provide our organization with copies of the loan agreements obtained by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.”
In a statement made available to Biztellers, the SERAP also sought “the spending details of any such loans as well as the interests and other payments so far made on the loans.”
In addition, the SERAP urged President Tinubu “to establish an independent audit on the spending of the loans obtained by the governments of the former presidents, and to make public the findings of any such audit.”
The call was detailed in the Freedom of Information (FOI) request dated 13 April 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare.
The not-for-profit said, “Publishing copies of the agreements would prevent and combat waste, corruption, mismanagement, and abuse in the spending of public funds.
“No one should be able to pull curtains of secrecy around decisions on the spending of public funds which can be revealed without injury to the public interest. Democracy requires accountability and accountability requires transparency.”
According to the SERAP, “Nigerians are entitled to information about what their government is doing in their name. This is part of their right to information.”
The FOI request, read in part, “Nigerians’ right to a democratic governance allows them to appreciably influence the direction of government, and have an opportunity to assess progress and assign blame.
“The accountability of government to the general public is a hallmark of democratic governance, which Nigeria seeks to achieve.
“Your government should make it possible for citizens to have access to the agreements and spending details to judge whether their government is working for them or not.
“Publishing the agreements would demonstrate your oft-expressed commitment to openness in government and to promote accountability. It would also improve public accountability in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
“Publishing the agreements and spending details would allow the public to see how and on what these governments spent the loans and foster transparency and accountability.
“The information may help to explain why, despite several billions of dollars in loans obtained by successive governments, millions of Nigerians continue to face extreme poverty and lack access to basic public goods and services.
“Providing us with copies of the loan agreements signed by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, and widely publishing the agreements would allow Nigerians to scrutinise it and to demand accountability for the spending of the loans.
“We would therefore be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.
“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Freedom of Information Act, and the UN Convention against Corruption, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to Nigeria is a state party.
“According to Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, the total public domestic debt portfolio for the country’s is N97.3 trillion ($108 billion). The Federal Government’s debt is N87.3 trillion ($97 billion).
“Nigeria paid $6.2 billion in 2019 as interest on loans while the country paid $6.5 as interest in 2018. Nigeria also paid $5 billion as interest on loans in 2017 while the country paid $4.4 billion as interest in 2016. For 2015, the interest paid on loans was $5.5 billion.
“SERAP is seriously concerned that substantial parts of the loans obtained by successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999 may have been mismanaged, diverted or stolen, and in any case remain unaccounted for.
“Publishing copies of the agreements would also ensure that persons with public responsibilities are answerable to the people for the performance of their duties including the management of the loans obtained between May 1999 and May 2023.
“Your government has a responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in how any loans obtained by the Federal Government are spent, to reduce vulnerability to corruption and mismanagement.
“The Freedom of Information Act, Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee to everyone the right to information, including to copies of the loan agreements obtained by successive governments since 1999.
“By the combined reading of the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, there are transparency obligations imposed on your government to widely publish the agreements and details of the projects on which the loans were spent.
“The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their government’s activities.”
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s prolonged absence from Nigeria, saying Nigerians deserve to know the President’s whereabouts amid the country’s security challenges.
Obi made the remarks on Arise TV on Thursday while discussing the President’s absence from the country and the situation surrounding other senior government officials.
According to Obi, the issue was not simply that Tinubu was outside Nigeria, but that he had remained abroad beyond the period initially announced for his trip.
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“It’s not just that he’s out of the country. He’s out of the country beyond the days he was supposed to be. Beyond the days they even said he was going for,” Obi said.
He also noted that Vice-President Kashim Shettima was outside the country, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio was also reportedly abroad and the Senate was not in session.
“The Vice President is not in the country. And I understand the Senate President is out of the country, the Senate is not in session,” he said.
Obi expressed concern about the situation against the backdrop of insecurity and recent incidents involving the deaths of suspected illegal miners in Niger State.
“We don’t need this level of rascality at this moment in time, when Nigerians are being kidnapped, being killed, things are… we need a country where we have somebody, where we have competence, capacity, and compassion,” he said.
Referring to the deaths recorded in Niger State, Obi said the presence of the country’s chief executive was particularly important during a crisis.
“Look at Niger State now, where 10 people… where some young people have died for nothing,” he said.
The former Anambra State governor argued that while there is a chain of command within government, delegation should not replace the physical presence of the country’s leader during critical situations.
“It is… the CEO being present is critical at a time of crisis. Not delegation. Yes, you have a chain of command,” Obi said.
He subsequently asked where the President was and insisted that Nigerians should be informed.
“Where is the President? Nigerians ought to know,” he said.
Obi also said that, if elected president in 2027, he would make his whereabouts publicly known whenever he travelled.
“If I travel today, I tell people where I am. When I become President, Charles, people will know where I am 24 hours,” he said
“That is public space, public office,” Obi added.
The comments come amid continuing public debate over the absence of the President and Vice-President from Nigeria.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has challenged the way government borrowing is accounted for, arguing that funds borrowed but not actually drawn down should not be treated as debt left behind by an administration.
Obi made the remarks during an interview on Arise TV on Thursday while explaining his position on borrowing during his tenure as governor of Anambra State.
“That is a wrong public accounting. Even if I had gone to bank and borrowed money, but I did not spend the money, you cannot call it debt I left,” Obi said.
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He illustrated his argument with a hypothetical ₦10 billion loan facility, saying that where only ₦500 million was actually drawn, it would be inaccurate to describe the entire ₦10 billion as money owed.
“They gave me a loan of 10 billion Naira, and Charles, I only drew down 500 million. You cannot say I’m owing 10 billion, because you know the amount,” he said.
The NDC candidate said such a practice would amount to improper public-sector accounting.
“That’s why I said it is not proper public sector accounting,” Obi said.
He also cited the former Director-General of the Debt Management Office, Abraham Nwankwo, whom he said served for 10 years, in support of his claim about his borrowing record as Anambra governor.
Obi recalled that Nwankwo invited him to his send-off ceremony and publicly explained why he had selected Obi as chairman of the event.
“He announced it to everybody in that party that the reason why he made me chairman is because I was the only governor in Nigeria who never came to his office for approval to borrow money,” Obi said.
Anambra Debt Controversy
Obi’s comments come against the backdrop of continuing debate over the debt profile he left behind after serving as Anambra State governor from 2006 to 2013.
The former governor has consistently defended his administration’s financial record, while figures and claims about Anambra’s debt during and after his tenure have generated public debate.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has commenced the final phase of restoration works on the 330kV Kainji–Birnin Kebbi Transmission Line following the recent collapse of Tower T367 along the line corridor.
TCN, in an update issued on Wednesday, said significant progress had been recorded at the affected location in Yauri, where restoration activities are ongoing.
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According to the company, the collapsed transmission tower has now been completely dismantled and decommissioned, while the conductors and skywire have been properly aligned and prepared for the next stage of the restoration process.
TCN also disclosed that an Emergency Restoration System (ERS) tower has been moved to the site and is ready for installation.
The company said the installation would be followed by cable stringing and other associated works towards the restoration of the affected transmission line.
“Our engineers and technical personnel remain actively engaged at the site and are working hard to ensure a quick completion and restoration of the line.”
TCN said it remained committed to restoring normal bulk transmission as soon as possible and appealed to electricity consumers and other stakeholders affected by the incident for patience and understanding.
“TCN appreciates the patience and understanding of electricity consumers and other stakeholders affected by the incident and assures the public that every effort is being made to restore the line and consequently, normal bulk transmission as soon as possible.”
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