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IDP Agricultural Scheme Exposed as Multi-Billion Naira Scandal

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1 month ago

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In a shocking revelation, the much-publicized agricultural scheme for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria has been marred by alledged gross mismanagement and a staggering waste of public funds.

With a budget of N1.07 billion, the scheme was supposed to provide agricultural inputs and tools for refugees, migrants, and returnees.

However, mounting evidence suggests that the project may have been deliberately designed to siphon funds, with little regard for its success or benefit to the IDP communities it was meant to serve.

The project, which was set to span 150 hectares, aimed to offer displaced persons a sustainable means of livelihood by engaging them in large-scale agriculture. Yet, more than N300 million of the allocated funds were set aside for clearing and preparing the land alone—a task that has barely seen any progress.

Despite the massive expenditure, only 65 hectares have been cleared, less than half of the originally planned area.
”In fact, the area is not a designated IDP center, and the so-called IDP participants are merely residents of the area. I think one should not expect an IDP members from Abuja or else where to come to Loko to partake in IDP agricultural scheme, since farm scheme like this is mostly designed and tied to where IDPs are resettled in order to provide alternative means of livelihood. The source revealed.

Sources familiar with the scheme have raised concerns about its viability, given the current agricultural plans. The project intends to sow soya beans, a crop that, with optimal farming techniques, yields an average of 1.2 metric tonnes per hectare. With the 65 hectares cleared, the anticipated total yield stands at just 78 metric tonnes.

At the current market price of N750,000 per tonne of soya beans, the potential revenue from the harvest would amount to a mere N58.5 million. This is a paltry return when compared to the staggering N1.07 billion that has already been poured into the project, raising alarms about the scheme’s overall financial logic—or lack thereof.

Critics have been quick to label the project a “rogue operation,” calling out the CEO at the helm of the scheme for what they describe as “wanton mismanagement.” With over a billion naira already spent, it appears that the entire intervention was ill-conceived from the outset.

There are growing suspicions that the agricultural scheme was designed not for the benefit of displaced persons but to facilitate the embezzlement of IDP funds under the guise of a development initiative.

The numbers just don’t add up. Spending over a billion naira to achieve a cash output of less than N60 million is not just bad business—it’s a scandal,” one insider shared, on condition of anonymity. “This is a blatant misuse of public resources, and the IDPs are the ones who will suffer the most.”

The scheme, which was initially presented as a beacon of hope for displaced persons eager to rebuild their lives, now stands as a grim testament to the mismanagement that has plagued many IDP interventions. Many are now calling for a full investigation into the project’s finances and the actions of its leadership, warning that if left unchecked, the scandal could erode public trust in future efforts to aid Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.

In the coming days, pressure is expected to mount on the government and relevant authorities to take swift action, ensuring accountability and transparency in the handling of IDP funds. For now, the question on everyone’s mind is simple: how could over a billion naira be spent on a project with so little to show for it?

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Kano State Hosts 8th Annual Audit Forum to Enhance Transparency and Accountability

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7 hours ago

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November 21, 2024

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The 8th Annual Audit Forum, organized by the Office of the Auditor General of Kano State, was held recently, focusing on strengthening transparency and accountability in public financial management. .

Isma’ila Musa, the Auditor General of Kano State, welcomed the participants and highlighted the constitutional and legal mandates that guide the auditing process. “Sections 125(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and 36(i) of the Kano State Audit Law, 2021 (as amended) mandate the Office of the Auditor General to audit the accounts and financial statements of the State Government and all Offices and Courts,” he stated.

Musa expressed immense gratitude to His Excellency, Engineer Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Governor of Kano State, for his support in making the event possible. “It is very important to note that a strengthened fiscal transparency will help build trust in governance,” he emphasized. He added that the Audit Forum is a reform intended to reduce opportunities for corruption and abuse of public resources, thereby increasing the efficiency of public expenditures.

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The Auditor General also acknowledged the contributions of various officials, including the Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Planning and Budget, the Accountant General, the Executive Chairman of Kano Internal Revenue Services, and former Auditors General, among others. “My sincere appreciation to all the invitees here present for honoring our invitation. I wish us a successful 8th Kano State Annual Audit Forum,” Musa concluded.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, Honorable Tukur Fagge, praised the exercise for its potential to enhance resource management and ensure the success of the tasks at hand. “This exercise will enhance resources management and will realize the success of the task,” Fagge stated.

Sarkin Shanon Kano, Shehu Muhammad Dankadai, who served as the royal father of the day, also graced the event, adding to the significance of the occasion.

The forum underscored the commitment of the Kano State Government to upholding transparency and accountability, reflecting the administration’s dedication to effective and efficient service delivery.

 

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Breaking: Former Secretary of Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO, Ahmadu Kurfi Passes On at 93

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13 hours ago

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November 21, 2024

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Late Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi

 

A former secretary of the Federal Electoral Commission, Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi, has passed away.

A family source, Jafar Yakubu, informed NIGERIAN TRACKER about the death of the pioneer secretary of the Federal Electoral Commission, who supervised the 1979 general election.

 

Jafar Yakubu said Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi died at the age of 93 and his Janaza funeral prayers will take place by 2:30 PM at Kurfi in KATSINA state .

 

Dr. Amadu Kurfi, OFR, was born in 1931. He was a former chairman of the then Marketing Board, former Federal Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Defence, and the first person to acquire a BSc degree in the whole of Katsina State, at University College London in 1957.

 

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President Tinubu Sacks UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Registrar

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1 day ago

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November 20, 2024

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The governing council of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University has been dissolved by President Bola Tinubu.

The president dissolved the council and approved the removal of the institution’s vice-chancellor Bernard Odoh and the university registrar, Rosemary Nwokike.

A statement by Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy said the action by Tinubu follows allegations of procedural violations in the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor.

He also said that the council led by Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe and including five other members—Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin was accused of bypassing due process to appoint an unqualified candidate, prompting federal intervention.

Onanuga said, “The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process.

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He added that following the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address the rivalry between the university’s Senate and the governing council of the institution.

“The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process”, Onanuga added.

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