Edo farmers search probe of N144 billion agric mortgage

Jide Orintunsin – Abuja

Edo State Involved Farmers Affiliation (ESCFA) on Monday requested the Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN) and anti-graft companies to probe alleged mismanagement of N144 billion mortgage for agricpreneur undertaking within the state.

The farmers protested in Abuja, bearing placards asking authorities officers to reply how the mortgage was managed.

Addressing newsmen after peaceable protest at Unity Fountain in Abuja, Deputy Coordinator of the farmers, Comrade Abdul Muhammad Oshiobugie, mentioned the protest needed to happen in Abuja after unsuccessful makes an attempt to satisfy with the State Authorities on the matter.

The farmers additionally accused the State Authorities of defaulting in cost for his or her farm produce because the harvest seasons of 2017 and 2019.

In keeping with them, the CBN since 2017, superior over ₦75 billion agricultural loans to Edo State Authorities for additional disbursement to farmers, which didn’t occur.

“In 2017 we participated within the Agripreneur programme in Sobe, Owan West Native Authorities Space of Edo State the place we planted and harvested maize. Nevertheless, because the harvest three years in the past, until date we’re but to obtain proceeds from the sale of our maize by Edo State Authorities.

“In 2019 we additionally participated within the Agripreneur programme in Agenegbode, Etsako East Native Authorities Space, the place we planted and harvested rice. For the reason that harvest in October 2019, Edo State Authorities and Nigeria Incentive-Primarily based Threat Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) took our rice for processing and sale in Abakaliki. Nevertheless, now we have waited in useless for 9 months, and until date, the proceeds from the sale of our rice haven’t been paid again to us,” Oshiobugie alleged.

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The group additional alleged one other ₦69billion CBN mortgage invested into Edo State oil palm orogramme has been hijacked.

“We wish to use this medium to name on the CBN to take pressing steps to make sure that Edo State Authorities and NIRSAL pay Edo State Farmers, proceeds from the sale of their crops between 2017 and 2019.

“Lastly, we’re calling on the CBN and World Financial institution in addition to different monetary establishments to cease additional disbursement of loans to Edo State Authorities and as a substitute perform an intensive investigation into how earlier loans between 2016 and 2020 had been spent and people liable for embezzling these Loans needs to be prosecuted and made to refund the stolen funds.

“We plead with the Governor of CBN and the Nation Director of World Financial institution, to not cowl up these fraudulent actions in Edo State however to instantly start an intensive forensic investigation in partnership with the EFCC, ICPC and Civil Society Teams in Edo State and people discovered to have misappropriated these funds needs to be prosecuted.”