Akwa Ibom Elders, under the aegis of the Akwa Ibom Vanguard (AIV), have faulted the Federal Government for allocating N1.92 billion capital projects to the state in this year’s budget.
The elders, who addressed reporters yesterday, were led by Senator Anietie Okon.
They queried the allocation, out of the year’s projected N6.06 trillion, despite the state being the highest revenue contributor to the Federal Government.
AIV said: “It is, therefore, to our chagrin that out of N6.06 trillion appropriated for the 2016 budget, only the meagre N1.92 billion has been allocated for capital projects in Akwa Ibom state.
“Compare the above to the N209billion allocated to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the execution of 662 capital projects. It is painful that while the meagre N1.92 billion has been allocated to Akwa Ibom State, other states, like Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Niger, Nasarawa, have more funds allocated to them for capital projects.
“Adamawa State is allocated N5.98 billion, Borno and Gombe states have N5.46 billion and N9.70 billion allocated to them; Nasarawa and Niger states were allocated N12.59 billion and N14.75 billion.
“Indeed, the above allocations constitute a staggering contrast to the meagre M1.92 billion allocated to Akwa Ibom State for capital projects, notwithstanding its status as the highest contributor to the revenue in the country and, in consequence, the highest financier of the 2016 budget of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”