…..Transmits Two Criminal Justice Bills
By Christiana Ekpa
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the House of Representatives to approve a ₦100.5 billion Promissory Note Programme to reimburse the Yobe State Government for the construction of the Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport, Damaturu, while transmitting two bills seeking to strengthen Nigeria’s implementation of international humanitarian and criminal justice laws.
The requests were contained in separate letters addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and read into the National Assembly’s correspondence.
In a letter dated August 28, 2026, Tinubu sought legislative approval for the establishment and issuance of a Promissory Note Programme worth ₦100,509,017,234.55 through the Debt Management Office (DMO) to reimburse Yobe State for the takeover of the Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport, Damaturu.
The President recalled that the Federal Executive Council, at its second extraordinary meeting held on May 23, 2023, approved the Federal Government’s takeover of the airport, which was constructed by the Yobe State Government, alongside reimbursement of the project cost through the Promissory Note Programme.
He disclosed that the Bureau of Public Procurement had completed its review of the project and recommended ₦100.509 billion for reimbursement to the state government.
Tinubu urged the House to consider and approve the programme to facilitate payment to Yobe State.
In a separate letter dated October 6, 2026, the President transmitted the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols Bill, 2026, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Enforcement) Bill, 2026, to the House for consideration pursuant to Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols Bill seeks to repeal the existing Geneva Conventions Act, Cap. G3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and give effect in Nigeria to the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949, and the two Additional Protocols adopted on June 8, 1977.
The proposed legislation is intended to update Nigeria’s domestic legal framework for implementing the international conventions governing humanitarian protection during armed conflicts.
Similarly, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Enforcement) Bill seeks to give effect to the Rome Statute in Nigeria, provide for the enforcement and punishment of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and related offences, and establish a framework for Nigeria’s cooperation with the International Criminal Court.
Tinubu urged the House to consider the two bills expeditiously.
The two submissions place before the House separate matters involving federal reimbursement obligations and the domestic implementation of international legal instruments.
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Tinubu Puts ₦100.5bn Yobe Airport Bill, Two Major International Crime Bills Before Reps
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the House of Representatives to approve a ₦100.5 billion reimbursement for Yobe State’s Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport, Damaturu, while seeking legislative consideration of two bills targeting genocide, war crimes and other grave international offences.
The requests, contained in separate letters to Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, place a major financial obligation and two significant legal reforms before the Green Chamber.
In the first letter, dated August 28, 2026, Tinubu requested approval for the Debt Management Office (DMO) to establish and issue a Promissory Note Programme worth ₦100,509,017,234.55 to reimburse Yobe State for the airport project following its takeover by the Federal Government.
According to the President, the Federal Executive Council approved the airport’s takeover at its second extraordinary meeting on May 23, 2023, alongside reimbursement of the project cost through the Promissory Note Programme.
Tinubu said the Bureau of Public Procurement had completed its review of the project and recommended ₦100.509 billion for payment to the Yobe State Government.
He urged lawmakers to approve the programme to facilitate the reimbursement.
In another letter dated October 6, 2026, the President transmitted two proposed laws: the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols Bill, 2026, and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Enforcement) Bill, 2026.
The bills were forwarded pursuant to Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The Geneva Conventions Bill seeks to repeal the existing Geneva Conventions Act and incorporate into Nigeria’s domestic legal framework the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949, and the two Additional Protocols of June 8, 1977.
The Rome Statute bill, meanwhile, seeks to provide a legal framework for enforcing the Rome Statute in Nigeria, including provisions addressing genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and related offences.
It also seeks to enable Nigeria to cooperate with the International Criminal Court in carrying out its functions.
Tinubu called on the House to expedite consideration of the two bills.
The submissions now require legislative consideration, with the airport request focusing on a ₦100.5 billion reimbursement and the two proposed laws seeking to strengthen Nigeria’s domestic framework for international humanitarian and criminal justice obligations.
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