3,383 Farmers On The Run In Taraba After Collecting N364m Loan From CBN

  • Not less than 3,383 farmers in Taraba state have escaped with N364m loan from CBN
  • This was disclosed by Tanko Andami, the acting chairman Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria Taraba state chapter
  • The funds were collected as loans by farmers between 2018 and 2019 for both wet and dry season farming

About 3,383 farmers that collected the N364 million loan for both wet and dry season farming between 2018 and 2019 in Taraba state are on the run.

According to The Guardian, Taraba state chapter of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) disclosed this. Tanko Andami, the acting chairman of RIFAN, said the amount which was collected as loans has not been refunded by any of the farmers, adding that many of them are on the run now.

Nigeria Andami went on to question why the farmers failed to adhere to the conditions of loans. He said: “None of them, as I am talking with you, has refunded the facility extended to them, and many of them are on the run now.” Rice farmers in Taraba state are on the run after collecting N364m loan from CBN.

The funds were made available to the farmers by the federal government under its rice production programme, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the beneficiaries via various multi-purpose co-operative societies. The beneficiaries of the CBN loans were from Lau, Gassol, Wukari, Karim-Lamido, Ardo-Kila and Jalingo councils of Taraba state and registered under 185 multi-purpose co-operative societies. According to Daniel Gani, the vice-chairman of the association, most of the farmers thought the loan was “a gift” from the government, adding that they looked at it as allowance and bonus from the Nigerian president. Gani, while expressing dismay that some of the beneficiaries have changed their contact information, said no farmer has been traced, except the deceased.

He said though the association was on “a recovery process,” they would, however, leave no stone unturned in its efforts to recover the loans.

Source:legit.ng

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