By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
The Benue State Chairman of the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN), Mr. Vitalis Tarnongu, has accused the Federal Ministry of Agriculture of diversion and mismanagement of critical inputs meant for local farmers, warning that the alleged neglect poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s food security.
Speaking in Makurdi, Tarnongu said key farming materials such as improved seeds, fertilizers, and modern equipment either fail to reach farmers or arrive long after planting seasons.
He described the situation as “a pattern of deliberate sabotage” undermining both farmers’ livelihoods and the nation’s food supply.
FACAN, he revealed, has compiled a dossier of “concrete evidence,” including testimonies from farmers across Benue and photographs of agricultural inputs abandoned in government warehouses.
“The long-term consequence is a threat to Nigeria’s overall food security,” Tarnongu warned.
He added, “If the people who feed the nation are being actively denied support, we should expect shortages and higher food prices.”
He urged the federal government to launch an independent investigation, reform its distribution system to work directly with accredited associations, and prosecute officials found culpable.
While acknowledging low morale among Benue farmers, Tarnongu stressed that they remain determined to keep advocating for their rights.
Efforts to reach the federal ministry for their comments had not yet yielded results.
