Opposition Rep Agbese backs Tinubu's $21.7bn loan bid, cites infrastructure gains

Labour Party Rep Philip Agbese (Benue, Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo) breaks with opposition leaders Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to defend President Tinubu's $21.7 billion external loan request ($20.5bn + €1.04bn) submitted to the National Assembly Tuesday.

Agbese argues the borrowing funds productive assets—not consumption—citing over $10bn for transport infrastructure including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, and rail corridors. He points to completed sections of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway and Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as proof of delivery. Power sector gets super grid approvals for transmission upgrades. Defence allocation supports security gains: thousands of terrorists neutralized, mass surrenders, abducted citizens rescued.

A substantial portion comes at concessional rates from multilateral and bilateral partners. States and FCT benefit from subnational project allocations. Atiku calls it a 2027 election slush fund; Obi and ADC condemn it. Agbese urges cross-party support, saying opposition ignores inherited infrastructure deficit.

Will you support borrowing that builds highways and rail you'll use, or back the opposition's call to reject it over political trust concerns?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/30/opposition-rep-agbese-defends-tinubus-21-7bn-loan-bid/