By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of N6.15 billion agricultural subsidy for the first batch of 1.2 million farmers has hit controversy from intended beneficiaries, and allegation of fraud made by Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu.
In all, more than 2.2 million farmers will receive about N12.3 billion from Abuja in the coming weeks, according to the Villa, but the farmers insist they are not aware of registration for the disbursement.
The PUNCH reported Presidential Agriculture Assistant, Andrew Kwasari, as saying that the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has validated the first batch of beneficiaries.
However, All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN) National President, Kabir Ibrahim, faulted the claim of registering about six million farmers for the subsidy because the association is not aware of it.
Bagudu also denied knowledge of the registration and has alleged fraud in the scheme and wants the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate.
Kwasari insisted, nonetheless, that “the President has approved subsidies for 1.2 million farmers in Batch A and the NIBSS has validated their bank accounts and BVN (Bank Verification Numbers) as farmers.
“We have another batch of over one million and NIPSS has also validated their details and it will be sent to Mr. President for approval.
“NIBSS validates every BVN tied to any account and can tell you the owner of such accounts in this country.”
Kwasari said the funds would come in batches of about N6.15 billion each and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and the NIBSS have received details of the beneficiaries.
“The first batch is N6.15 billion and we are preparing Batch B and it may be up to that amount also. The file has moved from my office right now and it is with the Accountant General of the Federation and NIBSS for payment.”
Kwasari disclosed that the government has captured the data of over six million farmers across the country which are in his office.
He urged farmers to deploy the funds judiciously for agricultural purposes because the government would monitor their activities.
Farmers dispute registration of their members
Ibrahim told The PUNCH that what the government should focus on is how to address rising food prices caused by terrorists who prevent farmers from cultivating crops.
He insisted that the government should not claim that it has spent billions of naira on capturing the data of farmers.
Cotton growers also said they are not involved in the exercise.
Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Sabo Nanono, had disclosed at the meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development on June 17 that an online portal was created to register 10 million farmers.
He said the data would capture their biographies, geographical information of farmlands, crops, and production capacity, which will be a platform for government interventions and end unscrupulous practices in agricultural.
Nanono disclosed that the programme was initially planned to capture 2.4 million farmers countrywide but the result encouraged the government to expand the target to 10 million.
Ibrahim countered that “I am not aware of any of such and we have not been registered. We are not part of what they are doing.
“I think what should be of importance to government now is how to address the rising food prices occasioned by the inability of farmers to go to their farms due to insecurity.
“They should not come and tell us that they are spending billions to capture farmers’ data or to registers farmers in Nigeria. We are not aware or part of it.”
“He (Kwasari) came to my hotel room [in Garki, Abuja] and spent two and half hours with documents that he said they had used to register farmers, but I was not convinced.
“I am the president of all farmers’ association and we have chapters in the 36 states and in the 774 local governments.
“If they are actually registering farmers, don’t you think one farmer will call me or call one of the executives to tell us that farmers are being captured?
“Nobody, no single farmer has called me or any of our executives to say that farmers are being captured.”
Ibrahim recounted that a meeting was held some time ago involving the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President and some governors.
“They brought out what they had done. The Governor of Kebbi State [Abubakar Bagudu] said as far as the governors were concerned, there was no such thing going on.
“They said they were working with commissioners and directors of agriculture, but the governor said the commissioner for agriculture works directly with him and that the commissioner told him (governor) that he (commissioner) was not aware.”
“The governors made it clear that they were not aware during the meeting, stressing that it looked as if it was only Kwasari and [Nanono] who were doing the registration.
“How much are you (the officials) spending per person? The EFCC [Economic and Financial Crimes Commission] is looking at this issue.
“You are on one side saying farmers are being captured, while farmers are on the other side saying they are not being captured.”
Registration only in few states
AFAN Lagos State Chairman, Femi Oke, told The PUNCH that “I am not aware of any registration or data capturing exercise yet.”
Likewise AFAN Bauchi Stated Chairman, Mahmoud Yakubu, who said: “In my capacity as Chairman of Bauchi state farmers’ association, I am not aware of that.
“Just as you heard it was how I also heard it. What I am saying is that the federal government is supposed to carry us along.
“Before we are registered, the organ responsible will give us the terms of reference and from there, we will know what to expect but I can’t just say this is what we will expect without knowing what they want to do.”
AFAN Osun State Chairman, Sulaimon Araokanmi, explained that the only registration done by farmers in the state was for those who recorded losses in the #EndSARS protest and flooding of 2020.
His words: “We have 52 commodities in the state and every commodity has a leader. I am the overall leader of all the farmers in the state. We have representatives for yam farmers, poultry farmers, fish farmers and others.
“So, I may not know if members of sub-groups under AFAN have been asked to register.”
“The registration that I am aware of in the state is for those affected by flood last year and it was done throughout the country. Those that suffered losses during #EndSARS protest were also told to register.”
Osun State Cotton Farmers’ Association Chairman, Sulaimon Akande, said his members are not aware of registration by the federal or state government.
Cross River State branch of Chairman the Rice Farmers’ Association of Nigeria, Oliver Ntui, confirmed awareness of the registration, but said his association is not involved.
His Sokoto State counterpart, Saliu Ibrahim, said: “Yes, rice farmers in Sokoto have been involved in various registrations, be it the Anchor Borrower Scheme and various farmers groups.”
AFAN Benue State Chairman, Aondongu Saaku, told The PUNCH that the registration of farmers in the state “is not done by AFAN but by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and BERNADA [Benue State Rural Agricultural Development Agency].”