Bauchi orders delivery of 50 trailers of fertilizer to curb scarcity

…sets up committee to probe fertilizer production funds

By Hassan Ibrahim

The Bauchi State Government has ordered for the delivery of 50 trailers of fertilizer from a Moroccan Agricultural Company popularly known as OCP Africa to tackle the recent fertilizer shortages affecting farmers across Bauchi State.

State Commissioner for Agriculture, Aliyu Iliyasu Gital, who address the public in a special briefing over the farmers predicament Wednesday in Bauchi cited global raw material shortages, skyrocketing prices, and internal administrative lapses as key reasons behind the delay in production at the Bauchi fertilizer blending company.

Earlier this month, Governor Bala Mohammed flagged off the 2025 fertilizer sales at Gajin Duguri in Alkaleri Local Government Area, pledging to support farmers with subsidized fertilizer NPK 15-15 at N20,000 per bag, despite rising market costs, with promises of equitable distribution across the 20 local government areas of the state.

However, in the weeks following the ceremony, farmers began experiencing difficulties in accessing the government subsidised fertilizer at designated centers.

The Commissioner assured that alternative supplies were being sourced, particularly through a partnership with OCP Africa, a Moroccan agricultural support company, which has committed to supplying 50 trailers of fertilizer to the state.

He added that the move is aimed at addressing delays and ensuring that farmers have access to essential inputs during the peak of the farming season.

Similarly, the State Government has constituted a committee to investigate the management of funds allocated for the production of fertilizer for the ongoing farming season.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Aminu Hammayo, inaugurated the committee at the Government House Bauchi with a charge to examine all issues surrounding the state-owned fertilizer blending plant.

Hammayo explained that the committee is tasked with the responsibilities of recovering any misused or unaccounted funds, recommend measures to forestall similar challenges in the future and submit its report within two weeks.

According to the SSG, the committee will unravel the mystery behind production and distribution lapses, and trace and recover funds provided for fertilizer, and also recommend reforms on the best way to avoid reoccurrence in the future.

The committee to be chaired by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Rural Development Faruq Mustapha as chairman has the Head of Civil Service Barrister Sani Umar; the State Accountant General, Sirajo Muhammad Jaja, the State Auditor General Ishyaku Yankari as members.

Other members are the Chairman of the State Board of Internal Revenue Service Alhaji Mu’azu Usman, the Commissioner for Agriculture Dr Iliyasu Aliyu Gital while the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the SSG is to serve as the committee’s secretary.