All Farmers Association of Nigeria(AFAN) has called for a forensic audit of the 2019/2020 contracts awarded by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

This is coming on the heels of the Ministry admitting that it spent N30 million to build a mosque in the internally displaced persons camp in Borno State.

Recall that the award of the contract for the building of a mosque in Borno State has raised outrage and condemnations among many Nigerians, who have been wondering whether the ministry has the statutory mandate to construct mosque.

Alhaji Abdurrashid Magaji R/Gado, Chairman, AFAN Kano State Chapter in a statement on Saturday said the forensic audit of the ministry’s account since assumption of office by the current Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono, would reveal “a good number of projects like “mosque-type” project.

Gado said the press release issued by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) owning up the award of the mosque contract leaves many unanswered questions.

He said any letter for the award of a construction contract should have a contract number, project location and project duration.

“There is a very real possibility that the contract is non-existent and is only a ploy to mop up money at the end of the year judging by its December 2020 date of award.

“A site layout showing location of the project and all the contract documents including Architectural, Structural drawings and priced BOQ(Bill of Quantities) must be laid out for all to see in debunking the allegations of misapplication of resources meant for agriculture.

“If truth be told this is simply the beginning of the exposure of the atrocities being committed by the present Minister of Agriculture,” Gado said.

The AFAN Kano State Chairman said, “It is embarrassing to the administration of President Buhari to have a sitting Minister carelessly contravening the constitution which clearly abhors the projection of any religion over another in a plural and diverse nation at the brink of collapse due to religiosity, ethnicity and insecurity judging by the commentaries on the social media.

“There are many projects being executed in urban areas with resources meant for rural projects especially in Kano.”

He alleged that the minister has been involved in financial infractions in some of the projects embarked upon by the ministry.

“The misrepresentation of facts such as the purported 60,000 tractors to augment mechanization, the N13 billion for the fight against qulea birds, N2.7billion for registration of farmers etc, are goofs that should cause the President to sanction the Minister of Agriculture.

He further alleged that “The residence of the Minister of Agriculture in Maitama was rented and furnished despite the fact that the letter of appointment of the minister indicates that these privileges have been fully monetised and included in his take-home package.”

“The various contracts placed through the Ministerial Tenders Board in several locations purported to have been executed are mostly used as a ploy to siphon money and there are documents available to prove that.

“A forensic audit of the 2019/2020 contract for a good number of projects will reveal many “mosque-type” projects.

“The Heads or Directors of Procurement, Administration & Finance, Rural Development and Planning who are the officers used to perpetrate these atrocities should be suspended immediately before the audit exercise, ” he said.

Newsfocusng gathered that about 47 candidates have been cleared to sit for written examination to fill vacant positions of Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service on 31, May 2021.

This was contained in a statement on Saturday by Director, Press & Public Relations in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. AbdulGaniyu Aminu stating that the 47 officers were shortlisted out of 51 candidates who faced a screening panel from Monday, 17 to Friday 21, 2021.

Aminu said the candidates are jostling to fill vacancies of retired permanent secretaries and those retiring this year in five states, namely, Ekiti, Katsina, Nasarawa, Enugu and lagos states.
Each state has just one vacancy.

He explained that the screening of the candidates was conducted in an open and transparent manner under the watch of personnel from the Department of State Security(DSS), Economic and Financial Crime Commissioner(EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences(ICPC), who were there as observers.

He said the Chairman of screening exercise is the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, ably assisted by the Permanent Secretary Career Management Office, in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Mamman Mahmuda. The Director, Employee Mobility in the office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mallam Tijanni Babura is the Secretary.

He stated that, “In order to assure credibility of the exercise and ensure that the process aligned with the rules of engagement, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan was present throughout the exercise.

“It would be recalled that the exercise is sequel to the approval of President Muhammed Buhari in a circular ref: ACSF/CMO/AOD/012/1X/4 earlier signed by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan,” the statement explained.

President Muhammadu Buhari has expresed deep sadness over the air crash that claimed the lives of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and other military officers.

The President, in a release Friday night by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, condoled with families of the deceased, the military, and Nigerians in general, describing the late senior Army officers as “heroes who paid the ultimate price for peace and security in the land.”

While praying that God receives the souls of the patriots, the President says the crash “is one mortal blow to our underbelly, at a time our armed forces are poised to end the security challenges facing the country.”

President Buhari pledged that the departed would not die in vain.

The President’s statement is the first offficial confirmation that the Army chief died in the ill-fated flight.

Also, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, have described as shocking and sad the death of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 others in a plane crash on Friday evening in Kaduna.

The National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of APC, Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, in a statement issued Friday might said the party was in deep shock over the report of a fatal air crash of a Nigerian Air Force plane conveying Attahiru and other military personnel on Friday, May 21, 2021, near the Kaduna International Airport.

While the air crash is being investigated and reports on its cause sketchy, the party commiserated with President Muhamadu Buhari, the Nigerian military and the families of the deceased on the tragic loss of the officers who had gallantly served the nation with honour and dignity.

, Gbajabiamila, has described as shocking and sad the death of Attahiru, and 10 others in a plane crash.

The Speaker in a statement issued Friday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Lanre Lasisi, said the death of the Army Chief was unfortunate coming at a time that the Nigerian military was finding solutions to the security challenges in the country.

Gbajabiamila said having taken over from the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen.Tukur Buratai, a couple of months ago, Attahiru had shown a lot of commitment in tackling the security situation in the country.

The Speaker who said he had a few meetings with Attahiru in search of solutions to the challenges, noted that the late Army Chief came across as a core professional officer.

.Gbajabiamila stressed that the Nigerian military, especially the Nigeria Army, had lost a dedicated and committed senior officer whose services to the fatherland would be sorely missed.

The national leadership and entire membership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) express her profound condolences to President Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR, the Nigerian Armed Forces and Family of Late Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff and other officers who died in the fatal plane crash close to the Kaduna Airport on Friday 21st May, 2021.

This was contained in a condolence letter to President Muhammadu Buhari signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja by NMA President Prof. Innocent A.O. Ujah, and the Secretary General Dr. Philips Uche Ekpe.

The NMA joins other Nigerians in sharing the pains and grief of the Presidency and other well meaning Nigerians and prays that their souls find peace in God’s Kingdom while praying for the families the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.

The Association is particularly pained, bearing in mind that the nation has lost a rare breed and one of her most decorated intelligent tactical officer with enormous wealth of experience in tackling the current insurgency and banditry at this time that his services are most needed.

Chief of Army Staff Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru The Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Ibrahim Attahiru has died in an air crash today while on an official trip to Kaduna.  

Newsfocusng gathered that he died with his aides in a plane crash.

Nigerian Air Force confirmed that there was an accident involving one of its aircraft in Kaduna but did not go into details.

“An air crash involving a @NigAirForce aircraft occurred this evening near the Kaduna International Airport. The immediate cause of the crash is still being ascertained. More details to follow soon,” read the statement signed by Edward Gabkwet, the force’s Director of Public Relations and Information.

A source however said there were eight persons, including Gen. Attahiru, on board the aircraft.

Attahiru was appointed Chief of Army Staff on January 26, 2021.

Born on 10th August 1966 in Doka, Kaduna North Local Government Area, Kaduna State, he graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy.

He commenced cadets training in January 1984 and was commissioned into the rank of Second Lieutenant in December 1986 as an Infantry Officer. He holds a Masters degree in Strategic Management and Policy Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy.