Kaduna Audit report: Commissioner refuses to account for N15.9million tractor loan recoveries

The Kaduna State’s 2021 Audit Report has unveiled a significant discrepancy within the Ministry of Agriculture, indicating a failure to recover any funds from the projected N15,999,999 million tractor sales on loan.

Upon scrutinizing the 2021 Audit Report, The Guardian discovered that the Ministry of Agriculture was projected to recover N15,000,000 intended for tractor sales. Shockingly, the audit report revealed that the ministry didn’t retrieve any funds, resulting in a substantial shortfall of N15,999,999 in the tractor sales section.

When questioned about the reported failure to recover the N15,999,999 loan from sales of tractors, Kaduna Commissioner for Agriculture, Murtala Dabo redirected the inquiries and emphasized that the issue predates the current administration.

Despite clarifications about the ministry’s accountability under the Freedom of Information Act, the Commissioner persisted in denying any knowledge of a tractor loan and told this report to consult the Auditor General for explanations.

Responding to questions from our correspondent, the commissioner asked “what is Guardian’s business coming here to ask me? You said you saw it on Auditor General’s report, then go and ask the Auditor General.

“This ministry (Agriculture) has not even bought a single tractor since. So it predated this government( Governor Uba sani Administration). If you need any explanations go to the Auditor General and get it from him. I don’t have anything to do with this.”

Meanwhile, an assessment by The Guardian on the price of the tractor as of the year 2021 revealed a single tractor costs N15,000,000, aligning with the audit’s estimated collection amount.

However, the stark discrepancy of 15.9 million between projected revenue and zero recovery raises critical questions about the accuracy of reported figures, underscoring its financial impact on the ministry’s operations.

An insider from the ministry of Agriculture who preffered to speak on the condition of anonymity stated that he is not aware of any tractor sales on loan. The insider also deemed it implausible to loan out a single tractor.

Likewise, Kabir Salihu, the Chairman of Maize Farmers Association chairman Kaduna Chapter, denied knowledge of any tractor sales on loan to maize farmers in 2021.

Abdulrahman Ali Musa, Kaduna’s State Coordinator of the Seed Poverty Eradication Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society, also noted that he has no knowledge of farmers receiving tractors on loan in 2021.

Musa who doubled as a large scale famer highlighted the challenges faced by farmers due to the lack of farming inputs. He said lack of inputs restricts them from dry season farming.

Meanwhile, Mohmmad Numbu, the chairman of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Kaduna Chapter was not reachable on phone to comment on the tractor loan from Ministry of Agriculture in year 2021.