This was contained in a petition submitted by stakeholders in the agriculture sector to the Senate Committee on Agriculture
The Governor of Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru; Thomas Etuh of the Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria; and TAK Agro, a company owned by Etuh, are allegedly enmeshed in a N46 billion fertiliser racketeering.
This was contained in a petition submitted by stakeholders in the agriculture sector to the Senate Committee on Agriculture.
The stakeholders, who briefed journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, stated that the fertiliser cabal dismantled by the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration has regrouped and is now more vicious.
The concerned group disclosed that the signing of the MOU by both King Mohammed VI and President Muhammadu Buhari to boost agriculture productivity in Nigeria is now a secret document in the hand of the cabal.
According to them: “After the public media signing ceremony, these MOUs have remained as secret documents in the hands of those at the forefront, such as some selected governors and very few individuals of the Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria, who did not carry their members along.
“Why?”
The group of agro dealers asked why it was only one company, TAK Agro, that was given the monopoly to import, bag, clear, store, transport and distribute raw materials for the production of fertilizer.
The group also asked why cement companies and manufacturers were not invited to supply lime stone instead of appointing ferilizer manufacturers/blenders who produce agric lime to supply the calcium granules.
The group said: “The Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority by extension have been in the know with several secret meeting held with Mr. Etuk, Governor of Jigawa State.
“In whose best interest is that level of non-transparency?
“And by our calculations, the Federal government will be sleazed about N46 billion and the farmer will carry the brunt.
“How do these MOUs (not openly analyzed) conform with recent local content percentage proposal by the National Assembly in the amended Public Procurement Act and the recent statement by Mr. President that Nigerians should produce what we eat and eat what we produce?”
Members of the protesting agro dealers were Chika Chukwudili, Mohammed Sani, Hauwa Mohammed, Boniface Elenodalu, Felix Okonti, Bello Sani, Nnamdi Ukoko and Engr Noel Keyen.
Source: theeagleonline
