The Senate deputy chief whip, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, has urged the federal government to investigate the late fertiliser distribution to states by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Mr Nwebonyi (APC—Ebonyi North) made the call on Saturday in his home town, Mbeke, Ishieke, Ebonyi Local Government Area, while distributing over 2,200 bags of fertilisers to farmers across the senatorial district.
The lawmaker said the investigation should be immediate as the late distribution had negated the objective of making the input available to farmers in the 2024 farming season.
“The Senate will prevail on President Bola Tinubu to investigate those behind the delay, as the input, for instance, is arriving in Ebonyi when farmers are already harvesting their crops.
“The authorities saddled with the distribution of fertiliser and other farm inputs should do so between March and September for bumper harvest and food security in the country,” he said.
Stating that receiving input on time helps farmers plan their farming season well, the lawmakers urged the government to address the issue of fertiliser distribution through intermediaries.
“We just held our new yam festival, which means farmers have started harvesting yams, so where are we going to use our fertilisers?
“The relevant authorities should be alive to their responsibilities because the delay is an insult to the Senate and Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Nwebonyi urged leaders and the entire Nigerians to engage in acts that would put the country on the right path to solve its numerous challenges.
He thanked Tinubu for supporting farmers with agricultural incentives such as farm inputs to boost yields.
“The president donated 1,200 bags of fertiliser to each of the 109 senatorial districts in the country,” he said.
(NAN)