Governor says there’s no recession in Kaduna

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February 9, 2017 3:04 PM

El-Rufai made the comment on Thursday, February 9, speaking through his Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mohammed Sani Abdullahi.

Nasir El-Rufai

Kaduna State Governor,

El-Rufai made the comment on Thursday, February 9, speaking through his Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mohammed Sani Abdullahi.

“When we talk of recession, it does not mean that it is all aspects of the economy that is in recession, while some areas are experiencing decline, others are enjoying increase,” Abdullahi said during a press conference on the economic status of the state, Leadership reports.

“For example, agricultural production declined to 9% over the last two years, but it has been improved since last year. Constructions of roads and other capital infrastructures are ongoing, and this has created jobs for labourers, food vendors, masons, block cement moulders etc. This, of course, has opened up the economy of the State.

“In 2016, the State raised N18 billion internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and for the 2017, we have projected N54 billion IGR, and we hope to get it from ground rent and other sources within the State.

“We were able to generate the N18 billion last year because we were able to block all the loopholes that people used to steal government money. Past government was after big money before they could carry out capital projects, but same government was spending huge amount of money to run government.

“It is all about prudent management of meagre resources at our disposal. Despite lower federal allocation we got we were able to work with it, and this shows you how efficient this government is.

“We did not take external loan, but we intend to do so in the nearest future to open up more of the capital projects coming up this year. We are already talking with the State House of Assembly on this.” he added.

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Abdullahi also said that the Southern Kaduna killings had prevented contractors from working on projects in the area.

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