By Adadareporters
Some beneficiaries of the free fertilisers being distributed to farmers in Enugu State at no cost resell them shortly after collection.
Adadareporters’ covert investigations show that the culprits resell between N20,000 and N30,000 per bag. The fertilisers were donated by the Central Bank of Nigeria to the federal government, who in turn distributed them to small scale farmers through various state governments and Abuja.
One of the beneficiaries was seen calling a buyer, asking him, “Do you want to buy? I’ll sell it at N30,000. It is legit. I don’t need it because I don’t have a farm.”
A trader of agro-products in Enugu said, “The fertilisers being resold are cheaper by far. Ordinarily, a bag of fertilisers costs around N50,000. But these beneficiaries even beg to sell a bag at N20,000. Most of them applied, and were even surprised to have been invited to collect theirs.”
Meanwhile, the commissioner for agriculture, Enugu State, Hon Patrick Ubru, has said that the beneficiaries of the scheme were selected based on merit, and devoid of any political influence.
According to him, the only credentials were being genuine farmers based in Enugu, and having registered during the documentation.
In his words, “Our system is different. It is only those who registered that got the fertilizers. We avoided favouritism. A major of the people that got the fertilizers do not even know who the governor, agric commissioner or the permanent secretary is. What they know is that they are part of Enugu State.
“But the truth is that they are small-scale genuine farmers. You may be lucky to come from the village of the permanent secretary, but he is not the one that invited you. You were invited by Gov Peter Mbah to come and take fertilizers. It is out of his magnanimity. He wants to give everything he has free to the people of Enugu State.”
The commissioner added that the exercise assisted his ministry to know the farming strength of the people of the state.
Quoting him, “For a very long time, fertilizers have not been given to the people of Enugu State. In fact, we didn’t even know who our farmers are. I can now beat my chest to state that we have over 80, 000 farmers in Enugu State.”
Some of the beneficiaries commended the state government for the gesture. Levi Ogbu is from Nkanu West LGA. According to him, “I was simply invited to come and collect my bag of fertilizer. I went to the ministry in Enugu, did some verifications and was given a bag of fertilizer. I am happy because it will help my farming activities. The last time I priced a bag, it was over N50, 000. I couldn’t buy it, but this one has come naturally. I thank His Excellency for that.”
Onyebuchi said he is from Udenu. He said, “I know there was a time forms were distributed. I filled one; my wife filled another. Both of us were invited to collect fertilizers in Enugu through text messages. I didn’t know anybody. It was purely free and fair.”
Our correspondent reports that the fertilizers were donated by the CBN to the federal government, which in turn allocated them to the thirty-six states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory for onward distribution to farmers.
