Having been in office just over 15 months, the Plateau State Government on Monday confirmed that its has sourced for N41.7 bil­lion loan from banks and through Federal Govern­ment bonds but that it has so far only accessed approximately 28 bil­lion.

The government said it borrowed the money to settle backlog of salaries owed civil servants, com­plete ongoing projects, ensure accreditation of the state-owned univer­sity, among others, which it inherited from the im­mediate past administra­tion in the state.

This was disclosed by the Accountant General of the state, Mr Cyril Tse­nyi, will fielding ques­tions from journalists at the maiden edition of the state monthly media briefing held at the cabi­net office, Jos.

Tsenyil said, “When this government came on board last year, we took a loan of N4.5 billion to be specific with UBA bank; which has been converted to Federal Government of Nigeria bond.

“Then in an attempt also to get the accredita­tion of Plateau State Uni­versity ongoing, we took N1.1 billion from Zenith Bank.

“Plateau State Govern­ment in conjunction with the local governments applied for N10.5 billon for salary bailout, just like any other state.

In adding to that, “We have another N10 billion from the excess crude ac­count intervention by the Central Bank.

“These are the loans or facilities the state gov­ernment so far enjoyed either locally or from the Federal Government. So, if you add these four put together, it is N27.1 bil­lion”, the AG said.

He further stated that, “Out of the N27.1 billion, N20.5 billion are Federal Government interven­tion in terms of loan with a single digit interest rate.