Reps to probe hike in fertiliser price

The House of Representatives on Tuesday unveiled plans to investigative the arbitrary increase in the price of fertiliser in the country.

Audu Ogbe, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development had during the investigative hearing on seven bills and two motions on clashes between Fulani herdsmen and host communities, promised to brief the House on the crisis trailing fertilizer contracts.

About N22 billion subsidy paid on fertilizer procurement by Federal Government in 2011 was described as fraud, according to a former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which led to a stoppage of the subsidy policy by the immediate past administration.

This resolution passed by the House was sequel to a motion on matters of urgent public importance sponsored by Olusegun Odebunmi (PDP-Oyo).

He observed that the immediate past administration which made fertiliser accessible through the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) which brought transparency in accessing fertiliser by eliminating middle men.

“The success of the GES metamorphosed into greater output from the agricultural sector as fertilisers was made available and affordably to farmers at between N3,000 and N3,500.”

Odebunmi stressed that agriculture remains a major sector that will diversification the economy and avert looming famine.

He said if this situation is allowed to go unchecked, the unavailability and unaffordability of it could lead to problems in the agricultural sector which will in turn cause a serious macro-economic problem.

While ruling on the motion, Speaker Yakubu Dogara referred it to the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services chaired by Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno) for further legislative action.

KEHINDE AKINTOLA