How Legislators, commissioners, Others Hijacked 5500 Bags of Fertilizers In Norther C'River, Says ADP Boss

Ndifereke BASSEY

The Zonal Manager of Cross River Agriculture Development Project, (ADP), Mark Ewa, has revealed how Cross River State House of Assembly members and commissioners hijacked 5500 bags of fertilizers meant for farmers in northern senatorial district.

The fertilizers were part of the agro inputs to eligible farmers in the zone and was allegedly aimed at distabilising the last August 1 nationwide protest.

The inputs were released by federal government, through federal ministry of agriculture for distribution to farmers few days to the planned nationwide protest, and to be supervised by the state ministry of agriculture.

According to him, each local government area in the zone including Ogoja, Bekwara, Obudu, Obanliku was earmarked to have 1000 bags of fertilizer while Yala got 1500 bags in the sharing formula.

Ewa said:"Immediately the fertilizer arrived the ADP office in Ogoja, house of assembly members, commissioners and other state political office holders took over the premises with their security details and took all the fertilizers to their various LGAs, and shared it to political "farmers" who aren't captured in the state as authentic farmers.

"My brother, I had no single say in the entire distribution of the fertilizers to farmers.

"It was purely a political thing as political office holders hijacked the distribution process and shared the inputs among themselves. We have data of all farmers in the zone but we were not allowed to use it"