Beneficiaries Of CBN-FG Fertilisers In Enugu State Were On Merit, Agric Commissioner

The beneficiaries of bags of fertilizers being distributed to farmers at no cost in Enugu State were selected based on merit, and devoid of any political influence.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Patrick Nwabueze Ubru, stated this in an interview with THE WHISTLER on Wednesday. Ubru said the beneficiaries’ only credentials were being genuine farmers based in Enugu, as well as having registered during the documentation exercise.

Quoting him, “Our system is different. It is only those who registered that got the fertilizers. We eschewed favouritism. No! Most of the people that got the fertilizers do not even know who the governor, agric commissioner or the permanent secretary is. What they know is that they are part of Enugu State.

“But the truth is that they are small-scale genuine farmers. You may be lucky to come from the village of the permanent secretary, but he is not the one that invited you. You were invited by Gov Peter Mbah to come and take fertilizers. It is out of his magnanimity. He wants to give everything he has free to the people of Enugu State.”

Ubru said the exercise enabled his ministry to ascertain the farming strength of the people of the state. He said, “For a very long time, fertilizers have not been given to the people of Enugu State. In fact, we didn’t even know who our farmers are. I can now beat my chest to state that we have over 80, 000 farmers in Enugu State.”

Meanwhile, many beneficiaries have commended the state government for the gesture. Levi Ogbu is from Nkanu West LGA. According to him, “I was simply invited to come and collect my bag of fertilizer. I went to the ministry in Enugu, did some verifications and was given a bag of fertilizer. I am happy because it will help my farming activities. The last time I priced a bag, it was over N50, 000. I couldn’t buy it, but this one has come naturally. I thank His Excellency for that.”

Onyebuchi said he is from Udenu. He said, “I know there was a time forms were distributed. I filled one; my wife filled another. Both of us were invited to collect fertilizers in Enugu through text messages. I didn’t know anybody. It was purely free and fair.”
THE WHISTLER reports that the fertilizers were donated to the federal government, which in turn allocated them to the thirty-six states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.