Daily Independent (Lagos)
Festus Owete And Otei Oham
12 November 2008
Abuja — Plans by the government to obtain a $3 billion loan from the World Bank has drawn fire from the House of Representatives ahead of the debate on it today.
The matter was raised at the plenary on Tuesday by Dino Melaye (PDP, Kogi), who lamented that Nigeria seeks such a huge loan just months after it got debt forgiveness from foreign creditors.
The government is shopping for the loan to develop infrastructure and eradicate poverty.
The Sustainable Development Sector Manager of the World Bank, Semeon Ehui, announced in Abuja last week that the facility comes with zero interest rate.
He said the loan would not add any burden to Nigeria, but stressed that one of the conditions is that projects such as education, health, roads and agriculture get priority because of their importance to the economy at all levels.
But Melaye kicked against the loan because of past experiences with the Paris Club and others, adding that it would be disadvantageous to the country.
His colleagues voted overwhelming for the matter to be debated today when Deputy Speaker, Usman Nafada, who presided over the session, put it to vote.
A Bill to regulate the transportation of animals, prevent undue pain and suffering in animals used in food production, and for matters connected therewith was passed.
Also on Tuesday, two new members of the House were sworn in by Nafada.
They are Charles Onyekweli and Sefianu Abdullahi.
Onyekweli, who represents Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency of Delta State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), replaces Mercy Almona-Isei.
Abdullahi replaces Mustapha Tsanyawa who died recently. He represents Tsanyawa/Kunchi Federal Constituency of Kano State under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
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