By Inalegwu Shaibu & Ben Agande
ABUJA—THE Senate, yesterday suspended debate on President Goodluck Jonathan for a downward review of the terms and conditions of the Federal Government US$30million soft loan to Sao Tome and Principe.

The request was stood down following observations by senators, at a plenary session, that it was not accompanied by details of the loan.

This is coming as the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly is planning to raise a panel to consider the various requests for new states in the country.

Reading the President’s letter on the floor of the Senate yesterday, Senate President David Mark, said that the review was necessary because Sao Tome was under International Monetary Fund, IMF, conditionality programme and could only obtain loans on a long term tenor basis.

The National Assembly had duly approved the loan request of N4.5 billion at six years tenor with zero percent interest rate, zero moratorium and disbursement of three equal tranches of $10 million at six month interval.

But the new terms sought by the Republic of Sao Tome and Principe include extension of repayment time from six to 30 years on the same amount, six moratoriums with an annual disbursement of $10 million within three years.

The letter read: “The Distinguished Senate President may kindly recall the request of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe to the Federal Republic of Nigeria for a soft loan of $30 million which was duly approved by the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly.

“However, during the last visit to Nigeria in December 2009, by the Prime Minister of DRSTP and subsequent meeting with me, the Prime Minister requested Nigeria to consider the already disbursed tranche of $10 million on concessionary terms to enable DRSTP comply with the IMF conditionalities for that country.”

“In view of the strategic nature of our relationship with DRSTP and considering the need to provide all necessary and reasonable support to the country, the Prime Minister’s request was acceded to. I therefore urge the leadership of the Senate to kindly consider and approve the revised terms of the $30 million soft loan to the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe in view of the existing IMF requirements for that country.”

Senate sets up states creation panel
Following requests from various stakeholders for the creation of more states in the country, the Senate is to set up a sub-committee under its constitution review committee to specifically consider various request for new states.

Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu gave the hint in Abuja yesterday and revealed that when set up, the committee would fast track the consideration and recommendation for the creation of the states.

Ekweremadu, who received  a delegation from the movement for the creation of Anioma State from the present Delta State led by Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike  Edozien, further disclosed that the committee would come on stream as soon as the state houses of assembly ratified the amendment proposed for the 1999 constitution.

“We carry the burden of our people as their representatives. A consensus of opinion suggests that Nigerians want more states created. If that is the wish of our people, so be it,” he said. Expressing optimism that states would be created under the present dispensation, he said that the exercise would bring development to the people and create healthy competition among the states, adding that the exercise  would reflect the federal character of the country.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation said that the proposed Anioma State has large land mass, rich in oil and gas as well as solid mineral deposits that would make the state economically viable and sustainable.

Edozien said the agitation for the state which started since 1975 under the then Justice Ayo Irikefe state creation committee set up by the Federal Government in 1974 has suffered neglects even when others had been created.

According to Edozien the people of Anioma on June 18 1980, submitted a request o the then National Assembly for a state of their own out of the former Bendel State.

“Having satisfied itself that the request met the condition laid down in Section 8 (1)(a) II & III of the 1979 constitution, the National Assembly conference committee in his report of 1983, recommended the request for the creation of  Anioma State for referendum as one of the 14 requests that sailed through the hurdle,”, the Asaba monarch said.