News in Brief:
– The federal government’s recent ₦30 billion grant to Nigerian agricultural universities has sparked mixed reactions.
– While some applaud the initiative, others express concerns about the fund’s adequacy and potential mismanagement.
The Federal Government’s approval of a ₦30 billion grant to Nigeria’s 30 Universities of Agriculture to boost mechanised farming, has sparked mixed reactions from various stakeholders, especially on social media.
According to the country’s Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who announced the allocation on Tuesday, he stated that it is aimed at boosting agricultural development in the country. He added that the minister directed these specialised institutions to strictly adhere to their core mandates and discontinue offering programs unrelated to agriculture.
Diverse opinions on social media
While many have applauded the government’s initiative, concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of the fund in addressing the nation’s agricultural challenges.
Some critics argue that the allocation is insufficient to significantly impact the sector, given the vast needs and challenges facing Nigerian agriculture.
However, others expressed hope that the funds will be judiciously utilised to enhance research, training, and extension services. They also believe that the directive to focus on core mandates will help these universities to better align their activities with national agricultural priorities.
Essentially, a sample of views expressed on popular microblogging site, X, as well as on Facebook, revealed the diversity in opinions regarding the matter.
Concerns about fund adequacy
A respondent, Mr Vitalis, queried the impact of the ‘meagre’ funds in achieving the stated aim. To him, a ‘mere ₦30 billion at ₦1 billion per university’ amounts to less than 600,000 dollars.
“Can that even buy a good big tractor with full components? How many irrigation systems can that even cover? That can’t possibly buy a cassava harvester maybe a rice harvester. But you are using ₦15 trillion to build a road that adds no value to our economy,” he complained.
Hope for a positive impact
However, another X user, Mr Borgu, countered that even ’10m is big money in agro-business’. “I’m sure you don’t even know anything about agro-business. So many poultry farms run on less than ₦10 million. Most run on less than ₦100million. How many agro-businesses in Nigeria are worth ₦1 billion, how many can you name?” he countered.
Meanwhile, another X user, @xpressman, observed that the fund is ‘too poor…Considering the level of hunger in the country. According to him, “if Moribund Ajaokuta Steel with no value added has a budget of ₦4.5 billion in 2024, giving ₦1billion per university is poor when you use the word ‘mechanised farming’. Then we are simply not serious,” he concluded.
Concerns about mismanagement
Furthermore, another respondent, while commending the government for the initiative, pointed out the possibility of mismanagement of the funds.
“Good initiative if the government is serious. In Nigeria, the universities will lobby to get the money. They will be required to employ consultants with 50% of the money. Then they will use 45% to clear the farmland,” he claimed. “They manage the remaining money to acquire 50 pigs. Feeding the pigs will be a big problem. By the time you go there in the next 6 months, the bushes will be back. You will hardly see anybody around there. No questions asked, no one will be held accountable.”
Government’s expectations
Meantime, the FG has disclosed that the funds are meant to improve mechanised farming as well as boost livestock production in each of the agricultural universities.
“Every university that has a faculty of agriculture, we now want you to set up your own mechanised farming and livestock production, and we have put aside about ₦30 billion for that. We will give you ₦1 billion. You will have to apply for ₦1 billion to set up your mechanised farming in each of these universities,” he revealed.
Specifically, the institutions being referred to include: the Federal University of Agriculture, (Abeokuta), the Federal University of Agriculture (Makurdi), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture (Umudike, Abia), the Federal University of Agriculture (Zuru, Kebbi), the Federal University of Agriculture (Bassam-Biri, Bayelsa) and the Federal University of Agriculture (Mubi, Adamawa) and others.
Finally, analysts and critics contend that it remains to be seen how the universities will utilise the ₦1 billion take-off grant each, and whether the government will provide additional support to ensure the sustainability of these initiatives.
