Former Special Assistant on Digital Communications to late President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, has opened up about the widespread abuse and mismanagement of agricultural intervention programmes during the last administration, alleging that billions meant to support local farmers were diverted or exploited.
Ahmad made the remarks in a post on X (formerly Twitter) while weighing in on the federal government’s recent plan to grant food import waivers as a short-term fix for surging food prices. The policy has attracted criticism from some Nigerians who argue that investing directly in the local agricultural sector would be more effective.
Responding to one such critic, who urged the government to prioritise subsidies for fertilisers, fuel, and mechanised farming, Ahmad explained that similar efforts had already been undertaken under Buhari’s government particularly through the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) but were ultimately derailed by corruption and manipulation.
“Billions of Naira were allocated to farmers with the goals of achieving food security, reducing poverty, and curbing unemployment and insecurity,” Ahmad wrote, noting that many recipients failed to channel the funds into actual farming.
The ABP, launched in 2015 by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was intended to connect smallholder farmers with anchor companies, improving access to finance and boosting local food production. By 2023, the CBN reported it had disbursed a total of ₦1.09 trillion under the scheme.
However, Ahmad claimed that a significant number of beneficiaries diverted the funds into unrelated ventures.
“Some farmers received loans running into billions some even up to ₦6 billion but instead of investing in agriculture, many diverted the funds to sectors like oil and gas, bureau de change, and other luxury areas,” he alleged.
Even among those who genuinely engaged in farming activities, Ahmad accused them of stockpiling their harvests to artificially inflate prices.
“After harvesting, they hoarded their produce, waiting for prices to spike so they could make exaggerated profits, at the expense of the very people these interventions were meant to support,” he added.
The repayment performance of the ABP also remains in dispute. A 2023 report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) pegged repayment at just 24 percent, while the CBN claimed a more optimistic 52 percent recovery rate.
Ahmad further revisited the controversial border closure policy enacted under Buhari, which aimed to curb food imports and strengthen domestic production. Though the move sparked widespread criticism, Ahmad insisted it yielded positive outcomes.
“The policy was misunderstood and widely attacked even when the signs of success were evident. Rice importation dropped, and many Nigerians were pulled out of extreme poverty,” he said.
He went on to accuse some program beneficiaries of forming cartels, disrupting supply chains, and deliberately creating scarcity to inflate prices.
“They didn’t help stabilize food prices. Instead, they formed cartels, manipulated supply and created artificial scarcity to make outrageous profits,” he stated, adding that some of these individuals are currently under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
While supporting the current government’s decision to issue food import waivers, Ahmad cautioned that it must remain a temporary measure, not a long-term solution.
“It shouldn’t be the go-to option. But it has become the only immediate relief available to reduce hunger and suffering in the short term,” he said.
Ahmad concluded by stressing that the real fix lies in revisiting agricultural initiatives with stricter oversight and improved accountability mechanisms.
“The long-term solution still lies in reviving and properly monitoring agricultural interventions. But for now, the people need to eat, first.”
