Ruga’s suspension: anxiety grips contractors

Following the recent suspension of the Ruga settlement project of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) by National Economic Council (NEC) committee on Farmers-herders crisis headed by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo there are indications that many contractors already pencilled down to execute the project may have been jolted by the action.

 Food Farm News’ finding from the ministry actually revealed that the contracts award which were highly influenced were made to contractors whose list was said to have been approved by the FEC before it was suspended as directed by President Mohammadu Buhari.

The project, Food Farm News gathered, was suspended as a result of outcries against it; rumour of prices inflation that would have reaped off the purpose of the propramme; and its being at variance with the National Livestock Transformation Programme.

Recall that many Nigerians, including Prof. Wole Soyinka, have vehemently expressed oppositions to the programme saying it was an idea that could cause chaos in the country, in contrast to the positions of other Nigerians who want the programme executed saying it was a measure to checkmate herdsmen and farmers clashes as best animal husbandry practised would be entrenched.

When our correspondent visited the procurement department of the ministry the official who could have released the names of the contractors was said have stepped out of the premises but it was confirmed that contracts had already been issued out with directive from above.

Our source said that the suspension of the Ruga project has put on hold together with the operations of the contractors pending when another directive is given as regards the project.

A statement issued by the NEC had read: ‘’ members are aware that Mr. President has suspended the implementation of Ruga programme initiated and implemented alone by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources because it is not consistent with NEC and FGN approved National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) which has programme of rehabilitation of displaced IDPs within crisis states and development of ranching in any willing states of the federation’’

All effort to get at least one of the contractor proved Herculean as many of them did not want to be identified as according to one of our sources many of the contractors were representing one interest or personality from above and that was the part of the  reasons President Buhari may have suspended the programme.