We used N18.9 billion to clear the bush, others – Agric Ministry Explains

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has disclosed that it spent about  N18.9 billion on bush clearing, land preparation among others during the COVID-19 lockdown.

This was revealed to the House of Representatives according to Wole Oke, the chairman of the Public Account Committee(PAC) while responding to a probe on how it spent the said sum.

According to Oke,

“During the lockdown of the country as a result of COVID-19, some companies took contracts worth about N18 billion for bush clearing from the federal ministry of agriculture for land preparation, rehabilitation of soil plant lab and others. We cannot shave their heads in their absence.

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We have invited them to come and give us their own side by responding to the issues and show us the places they are supposed to have cleared. They have to take us to the land they cleared.

We have invited the ministry of agriculture, and they have made (a) submission. But some of our members whose constituencies these projects were supposed to be domiciled doubted the existence of these projects, and for (a) fair hearing, we have invited the companies that got the contract for them to come and tell this committee where and when the jobs were executed.”

Recall that a couple of days ago, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) told the Senate that termites had eaten most of the vouchers containing details of how N17.158 billion yet to be accounted for was spent. This led to widespread reactions from Nigerians.