President Bola Tinubu’s request to refund N24 billion to Kebbi and Nasarawa state governments for the federal takeover of two airports built by the states was on Thursday approved by the House of Representatives.

The refund will be issued through promissory notes, with N15,137,336,95.88 earmarked for Kebbi State and N9,000,542,651,786.11 for Nasarawa State.

Tinubu sought the approval of the House to reimburse the states for their investments in the airports.

While Kebbi State spent the money to construct the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, the Nasarawa State Government spent N9bn for the construction of the Lafia Cargo Airport, Nasarawa.

The letter read, “Establishment of a promissory note programme in favour of the Kebbi and Nasarawa State governments for the reimbursement of the respective costs of the construction of newly-built airports in those states that had been taken over by the Federal Government.

“The House of Representatives is invited to note that at the Executive Council meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, which was held on the 23rd day of May 2023, it was approved as follows;

“That a promissory note in the sum of N15,137,336,95.88 only be issued to Kebbi State State Government as a refund for the takeover of the Birnin Kebbi International Airport.”

The lawmakers at Thursday’s plenary dissolved into a Committee of Supply to consider the report on the request as submitted by the Chairman, Committee on Aids, Loans and Debts Management, Abubakar Nalaraba, and approved.