The Peoples Democratic Movement in Niger State on Wednesday called for an independent audit into the purchase of 130 tractors and their implements by the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello. The PDM in a statement disclosed that the price of the equipment was fraudulently inflated.
The statement, signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Yahaya Mohammed Usman, and made available to newsmen in Minna, disclosed that it suspected fraud in the purchase of the tractors and their implements.
Usman claimed that the price quoted for the purchase of the 130 tractors by the All Progressives Congress government of Governor Bello at N16.9 million each was outrageous and above the market price of the equipment.
It should be recalled that Bello had while flagging off the 2018 farming season on Tuesday said the 130 tractors were purchased at N2.2 billion, adding that they will be given to “genuine farmers” at 25 per cent subsidy.
According to Usman: “A unit of the same brand of tractor (MF375) with their implement bought directly from dealers cost N12 million a difference of N4.9 million each from the figure quoted by the governor of N16.9 million.
“The price given for the tractor is totally incorrect and was fraudulently inflated. Someone must have ripped off the state of about N637 million.”
The PDM said on the claim that the government was giving 25 per cent subsidy on each tractor to “each genuine farmer”, going by the existing market price, was wrong, adding: “The government is not giving any subsidy as each unit of tractor cost N12.67 million.”
Usman further stated that the price will be cheaper if bought directly from the manufacturers.
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