‘Emirs, politicians corner grains reserve’

Taiwo Adisa and Soji Eze Fagbemi, Abuja - 18.07.2008

The Senate adhoc committee probing food crisis in the country on Thursday discovered how Emirs and politicians including senators cornered about 85 per cent of the nation’s strategic grain reserves for 2008.

Documents submitted to the adhoc committee by the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources indicated that while the North was allocated a total of 55,555 metric tons of grains in 2008, the South got 10,200 metric tons within the same period.

The document presented to the committee showed the list of beneficiaries to include two serving senators from the North and six traditional rulers.

Entitled the “2008 Grain Release Beneficiaries,” the document indicated that Senator Ibrahim Ida, Chairman Senate Committee on Defence and Army(Katsina) got 120 metric tons, while Senator Adamu Talba Garba, Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Industries ( Jigawa) also got 120 metric tons.

The list also showed that five traditional rulers from the North including the Etsu of Nupe,120 metric tons, Emir of Biu in Borno State, 60 metric tons, the Emir of Lafia in Nasarawa State, 120 metric tons, the Emir of Daura and the Emir of Katsina both in Katsina State, got 120 metric tons each.

It also showed that the 17 states of the South, which got 600 metric tons each got a total of 10,200 metric tons, while the states of the North including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, got 36,000 metric tons.