Politicians hijack fertilizer distribution in Niger State

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Politicians, especially members of the state executives have been accused of allegedly hijacking the fair distribution of subsidized fertilizer sales contrary to the directive of governor Mohammed Umar Bago for seamless distribution to the real farmers in Niger state.
Checks by our reporter at farm centre Tunga and NAMDA office at Maitumbi revealed that some alleged political allies and families of those in government have hijacked the process for their selfish gains.
Farmers in an interview with our reporter disclosed that they were denied direct access to the distribution of assorted fertilizers at subsidized amount of N21,500. They ended up in buying at N35,000 from the alleged agents outside the selling centres.
Earlier, the Niger State governor Mohammed Umar Bago at the launching of the 2024 farming season ordered the sales and distribution of fertilizer and other agricultural inputs at subsidized rates of 50% while he reassured to achieve sustainable food security in the state.
Resident farmers in Minna and environs have appealed to governor Mohammed Umar Bago to urgently intervene and set up an independent committee to investigate and come up with the list of perpetrators to avert future reoccurrence and to serve as deterrent to others.
When contacted, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Doctor Mathew Ahmed debunked the allegation saying that only fifteen trucks of fertilizers were given for four thousand five hundred farmers to benefit as subsidy, against the one hundred trucks provided last year.
Doctor Mathew Ahmed added that due diligence was followed in the distribution for the three geo-political zones and dismissed that there were no allocation of fertilizers from the ministry as alleged and commended Governor Mohammed Umar Bago for the intervention.