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.
