Concerns have emerged in Taraba State over the alleged disappearance of 8,000 bags of fertiliser supplied under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope agricultural support programme, with stakeholders demanding accountability over the consignment reportedly valued at about N416 million.
The Renewed Hope Fertiliser Support initiative, introduced by President Bola Tinubu, is designed to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal while increasing food production ahead of the 2026 farming season. Under the programme, fertilisers and other agricultural inputs are distributed to states for onward delivery to farmers, either free of charge or at subsidised rates, depending on each state’s implementation plan.
Sources in the agricultural sector in Jalingo claimed that Taraba’s allocation has not been fully accounted for, alleging that thousands of bags are untraceable. They noted that many farmers have yet to receive the inputs despite preparations for the farming season.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Taraba State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security nor the Office of the Secretary to the State Government had issued an official statement confirming the receipt, storage, or distribution of the fertiliser.
Several farmers in Jalingo, Wukari, Gassol and Lau Local Government Areas said they had not benefited from the intervention.
”We heard that the Federal Government approved free fertiliser, but nothing has reached our communities despite enquiries at the ward and local government levels,” some of the farmers, who requested anonymity, said.
Civil society organisations and other stakeholders have called on the Taraba State Government to publicly disclose details of the fertiliser allocation, including the quantity received, where it is being stored and how it is being distributed.
They also urged Governor Agbu Kefas and relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate the allegations to ensure the intervention reaches the intended beneficiaries.
A civil society leader based in Jalingo said any diversion of the fertiliser would undermine the objectives of the Renewed Hope agenda and worsen food insecurity in the state.
Responding to enquiries, the Taraba State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Nicholas Namessan, referred questions to the Renewed Hope Team via a text message, saying, “Kindly ask the Renewed Hope Team, please.”
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has previously maintained that fertiliser allocations are officially documented and handed over to state governments, which are responsible for distributing them to farmers.
Stakeholders have continued to demand an immediate audit and a public update on Taraba’s fertiliser allocation to restore confidence ahead of the planting season.
They also called on the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) and other development partners to strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure agricultural inputs reach farmers across the region.