Controversy trails N9.6 billion Ges dry season

Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh

There are indications that the payment of the 2016 dry season Growth Enhancement Support (GES) of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) may be queried due to a high bill of about N9.6 billion naira despite allegations of haphazard delivery.

Findings revealed that the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh is not too comfortable with the figure presented by the ministry officials for payment, as there are many complaints on shortages in terms of inputs in many of the GES delivery centers. 

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.

The source said there were complaints from members of farmers’ association who wants to know how many of their members actually got the inputs support, and that they were already demanding that the case be investigated to prove the justification of the stated amount.

Food Farm News gathered that the input providers are already pressing for their money going by the promises of the Ministry that payment would be immediately made, as they have even resort to lobbying some on the national assembly members so as to prevail on the minister for immediate payment since the contract has been appropriated for 2016 budget.