Tinubu Seeks Reps’ Approval to Pay Yobe N100.5bn for Airport

President Bola Tinubu has asked the House of Representatives to approve a N100.5bn promissory note programme to reimburse the Yobe State Government for the takeover of Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Damaturu.

The request was conveyed in a letter read by Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, during plenary on Tuesday as lawmakers resumed legislative business after their annual recess.

In the letter, Tinubu said the Federal Executive Council approved the takeover of the airport, constructed by the Yobe State Government, at an extraordinary meeting held on May 23, 2023. The approval also provided for reimbursement through a promissory note arrangement.

The President requested approval for the establishment and issuance of the promissory note by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

According to the letter, the Bureau of Public Procurement reviewed the project and recommended N100,509,017,255 as the amount payable to the state government.

Tinubu urged lawmakers to give the request expeditious consideration, noting that the proposed payment would reimburse Yobe for the cost of the airport following its takeover by the Federal Government.

The airport, named after former President Muhammadu Buhari, was built by the Yobe State Government before the Federal Government assumed responsibility for it.

The proposed arrangement would formalise the Federal Government’s financial obligation to the state through a promissory note rather than an immediate cash payment. The request remains subject to legislative approval.

In separate communications, Tinubu also transmitted the National Research Development Fund Bill 2026, the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols Bill 2026, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Enforcement Bill 2026 to the House for consideration.

The proposed international-law bills seek to update Nigeria’s domestic legal framework for implementing international humanitarian law and prosecuting serious international crimes.

The House is expected to consider the President’s requests and proposed legislation as part of its resumed legislative business.