Fresh controversy has erupted in Taraba State after farmers alleged that 8,000 bags of fertiliser supplied under the President Bola Tinubu Fertiliser Input Support Programme cannot be accounted for, raising concerns over transparency in the distribution of agricultural inputs intended to boost food production during the current farming season.

The disputed fertiliser forms part of the 20,000 bags of NPK and Urea allocated to Taraba State by the Federal Government earlier this month under a nationwide intervention aimed at strengthening food security. President Tinubu had announced the procurement of 449,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser to support farmers across Nigeria as part of efforts to increase agricultural productivity.

According to records of the distribution exercise, 12,000 bags were allocated to the Taraba State chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) for direct distribution to registered members, while the remaining 8,000 bagswere designated for the Taraba State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to distribute to cooperatives and organised farmers across the state.

However, weeks after the allocation, many intended beneficiaries say they have yet to receive the fertiliser meant for distribution through the state government. Their complaints have triggered demands for an investigation into the whereabouts of the missing allocation, with farmers urging security agencies, the Presidency and Governor Agbu Kefasto establish what happened to the consignment.

The controversy has been deepened by conflicting accounts from federal and state officials.

The Director of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Taraba State, Luka Dabut, maintained that the fertiliser was officially received from the Federal Government and later handed over in full to the Taraba State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. According to him, the transfer took place in the presence of representatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies after a series of coordination meetings involving officials from both federal and state institutions.

Dabut explained that the fertiliser had initially been stored in the Federal Ministry’s warehouse before the Federal Government appointed a consultant to supervise the distribution process. He insisted that the ministry did not retain any portion of the consignment after the formal handover.

The Taraba State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Prof. Nicholas Namessan, however, rejected that account. Responding to enquiries, he stated that the Federal Ministry handled the fertiliser distribution itself, denying that the state ministry ever took custody of the 8,000 bags. His position directly contradicts the Federal Ministry’s claim that the fertiliser was officially transferred to the state government.

While the disagreement continues, distribution of the 12,000 bags allocated to AFAN has been observed at the Veterinary Warehouse opposite the Christian Centre along the FGGC Road in Jalingo, where registered members have reportedly been receiving their allocations. Farmers waiting for the remaining 8,000 bags say no similar exercise has taken place for beneficiaries expected to receive supplies through the state ministry.

The incident has renewed concerns over accountability in government-supported agricultural intervention programmes. Agricultural stakeholders note that timely access to fertiliser is critical during the rainy season, warning that delays or diversion could significantly affect crop yields and food production.

Farmers have therefore appealed for an independent investigation to determine whether the fertiliser was diverted, misplaced or remains undistributed. They argue that resolving the controversy quickly is essential to ensuring that genuine farmers receive the support intended for them before the planting season progresses further.

As of the latest official updates, no investigative agency has publicly announced the outcome of any inquiry into the disputed fertiliser allocation. With conflicting claims persisting between federal and state authorities, the whereabouts of the 8,000 bags remain unresolved, leaving many farmers awaiting answers and the farm inputs they say are urgently needed.

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