Fashola On The Cross Over  Buhari Administration’s Debt

By Akinwale Kasali

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola has come under strong criticism for justifying   President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s debt profile. He said the debts incurred by Buhari were justifiable because they were used for the provision of infrastructures across the nation.

The former Lagos State Governor asserted this at the closing ceremony of the 28th National Council of Works meeting held in Kano on Thursday.

He said the ongoing projects across the country had justified the debts, especially when compared with what the previous administrations had done.

“Our first budget in 2016 was over N250bn, up from the N18 billion we met in 2015. That was an increase of over a thousand percent, even though the price of crude oil was dropping, we did not raise taxes.”

He added that the Federal Government had been able to deliver more than 1,800 kilometers of roads across the six geo-political zones so far, stressing that the Buhari-led Administration was determined to complete all the ongoing projects before the expiration of its tenure in May next year.

Reacting to the statement, Political Analyst and Media Practitioner, Maureen Popoola said this shows the opaqueness in this government as it has clearly shown that the All Progressives Congress, APC, was not  prepared for Governance, rather, they were just bent on taking over the government.

“They have crippled the economy. What can this government say they have done with all the Abacha loot recovered all these years. What the APC administration accused the government of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of is what they are also doing. How can someone  justify that debt incurred was beneficial for the nation?

“It saddens me and I have decided to just look and observe from afar. This administration hasn’t done anything positive for the nation, rather we are lagging behind economically. How can the Minister of Finance say they are giving the vulnerable money and Billions of Naira are spent with nothing to show for. It is really pathetic”.

In the same vein, Social Commentator, Chidi Levi, said Fashola is just playing to the gallery by making such unguarded statement.

“In other climes they borrow to produce, invest and provide infrastructures, but in Nigeria we borrow to pay debts, service loan, service flamboyant lifestyles, pay our legislators, pay salaries and other unnecessary and unwarranted things. This is toxic borrowing. I don’t see the yardstick for him to have said that. It is disheartening that there is justification for the borrowing, he is just playing to the gallery “.