Controversy trails N9.6 billion Ges season dry

Chief Audu Ogbeh

There is great indication that the payment of the 2016 dry season Growth Enhancement support (GES) of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) may be facing questioning due to high cost bill of about N9.6 billion naira despite allegations of haphazard delivery.

Finding revealed that the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh is not too comfortable with the figure present by the ministry officials for payment as there are many complaints on shortages in terms of inputs in many of the GES delivery centres, and investigation may be conducted for verification. 

A source told Food Farm News that the minister was really bothered about the high bill being presented as there were alleged compromise of inputs delivery inflation figure in the 2016 Ges dry season distribution of fertilizers, improved seeds and agro chemicals to very few registered farmers.

There were complaints from farmers’ association of many of their members not getting the inputs support and they may have demanded that the case be investigated to prove the justification of the stated amount.