Boko Haram Causing Increase In Price Of Fertilizer – FG
Chief Audu Ogbe, Agric Minister[/caption]
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbe, has blamed the increase in the price of fertilisers on the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists.
The minister said this while speaking at a Special Town Hall Meeting for Youths, organized by the Ministry of Information and Culture on Tuesday in Abuja.
Ogbe revealed that Boko Haram is using components of fertilizer to make bombs and other explosives, which is the reason for the increase in price.
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According to him, fertiliser was being sold for N10,000 per bag because the security agencies also placed hold on its distribution.
He said: “Fertiliser came late this year due to security challenges.
“We started moving fertiliser in February to meet up with the farming season but the national security agency stopped us from moving it.
“Over 400 trailer loads of fertilisers were held down in Lokoja for two months because Boko haram were converting urea among other fertilizer component to make bombs.
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“It took two and half months to get arrangement from security agencies to escort fertilisers from the factories to the farms.
“We were cut between security problems and food security for the people.”
Ogbe, however, assured farmers that the price will reduce to less than N5,000 in the next planting season.
