The Kaduna State Government has reported 725 farmers who defaulted in the payment of agricultural loans they accessed from the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) Limited in March 2015 to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Media aide to Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, Mr. Samuel Aruwan who disclosed to newsmen in Kaduna, said the government had officially written the EFCC requesting for investigation and recovery of the funds.
He said BOA in partnership with Kaduna state government in March 2015 disbursed agriculture loan to 1,859 beneficiaries but 725 beneficiaries failed to liquidate their loans to the tune of over N205 million.
Aruwan said the state’s ministry of agriculture and forestry as well as the Bank of Agriculture, had been directed to furnish the EFCC with any additional information and/or documents that it might require.
“The agriculture loan scheme is an intervention of the state government in partnership with BOA meant to assist farmers to have access to financial assistance to improve agricultural activities. It is a revolving loan that enables farmers to access funds and repay after a farming year to enable other beneficiaries enjoy similar interventions. BOA has therefore forwarded names and details of the defaulting beneficiaries to EFCC for investigation to commence,” he added.
