Follow Us on Google
•Summon CDS, others over alleged unlawful arrest of Miyetti Allah leader
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has resolved to probe the non-delivery of 2,000 units of tractors and 100 combined harvesters, following an agreement between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and John Deere Tractors.
Consequently, the House mandated its Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to investigate the non-delivery of the agricultural equipment and the status of the tractor assembly plants contemplated in the agreement.
The parliament also mandated the Committee, which has four weeks to complete its assignment, to investigate the procurement and distribution of farm implements within the purview of the Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA) in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Saba Adam on the “Non-delivery of the 2,000 units of tractors and 100 units combined harvesters under the Presidential Food Security Initiative and Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanization Drive.”
Adam, in his motion, informed the House that President Bola Tinubu, shortly after assumption of office, declared an emergency on food security in the country. He explained that the measure was necessitated by inflation in the country.
“This emergency declaration stemmed from the continuous food inflation in the country resulting in hunger and starvation of Nigerians. This ugly trend was frowned upon by Mr. President, and as part of the Renewed Hope agenda of his administration, he showed great determination to revolutionise food production in Nigeria.
“The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has signed an agreement with John Deere
Tractors to supply 2,000 tractor implements and 100 combined harvesters annually, in line with the
Renewed Hope target for increased food production and food security.
“The contract for a tractor assembly plant in Nigeria was agreed to cost $70,041,733.80 and N2,981,739,134.30, respectively, with actual equipment and delivery costs. The contract includes sales, after-sales services, spare parts, and training for mechanized service providers.”
The lawmaker explained that “the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, pursuant to the Presidential Food Security Initiative (PFSI), entered into another five years agreement with AFTRADE DMCC for establishment of a tractor assembly plant to produce 9,022 agricultural implements and 2,000 Belarus tractors annually.
“This Agreement was estimated to cost Nigeria about $684,190,433 and N138,613,486,965 as actual equipment cost and delivery/assembly cost, respectively. Both agreements were laden with benefits to accrue to Nigeria if implemented, which include increased agricultural production, technology transfer, and reduction of the foreign currency expenditure on the purchase of ready-made equipment due to the growth of local production.”
Adam expressed worry that one year after the agreement, no tractor and harvester had been received in the country despite the huge public funds involved in these transactions.
“The non-delivery of these tractors and implements is a setback to the Renewed Hope Agenda in Agricultural mechanization and this poses challenge to Nigeria’s food sufficiency ambition, as two farming seasons have been lost since the signing of the agreements. “
Consequently, he stated that there was need “to investigate the non-delivery of the tractors, implements, and combined harvesters for over one year after the agreements were signed and the status of the tractor assembly plants contemplated by the agreements.”
The House has also resolved to invite the Chief of Defence Staff ( CDS), General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Army Staff, (COAS), Olufemi Oluyede and the Commanding Officer 177 Battalion over alleged unlawful arrest and detention of leader of Miyetti Allah, Bello Badejo.
It also charged the CDS and COAS to order the immediate release of Badejo from alleged “unlawful detention” and apologise to him for alleged infringement on fundamental human rights.
The security chiefs are expected to appear before the House Committees on Army, Human Rights and Justice to explain the actions of their officers.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Manu Soro calling for the intervention of the House in the alleged unlawful arrest and detention of Badejo by officers of 177 Battalion of the Nigerian Army.
Soro, in the motion, informed the House that Badejo was arrested on December 9 by soldiers, allegedly over a dispute with a retired military general without prior invitation.
“The arrest is allegedly in connection to a misunderstanding between a retired military general and some members of the Maliya community. One week after the arrest, Alh Bello Badejo is yet to be arraigned before a competent court of jurisdiction as required by the extant laws of the land.
“The continued detention of Alh Bello Badejo by officers of the Nigerian Army without formal charge(s) is a violation of his fundamental human rights as provided for, in sections 34, 35 and 36 of the Constitution of the FRN, 1999 as amended.”
