FoI Request: CBN Denies Disbursing N100bn For ‘Mini’ Ranches

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied disbursing the princely sum of N100 billion to some state governments for the purposes of establishing mini ranches during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The response is coming sequel to a Freedom of Information (FoI) by THE WHISTLER following claims in some quarters that some state governors received funding to develop ranches as part of measures to check herdsmen attacks on farming communities across the country.

In a response to the FoI request about four months after, the CBN in a letter signed by Mrs. R.J. Monguno, Acting Director, Corporate Secretariat, glibly stated, “we write to inform you that the information you requested for does not exist as no such disbursement was made by the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

THE WHISTLER in a request dated January 19, 2018 had asked the apex bank to specifically provide information on the sum of N100 billion allegedly disbursed by the CBN to states in 2014 for the building of ‘mini’ cattle ranches.

In the request signed by Mr. Christian Chukwu, the newspaper said the information has become imperative “since the issue has become a subject of legislative probe at the National Assembly, it would be in the interest of the public and Nigeria that correct information on the issue be put in the public space.”

In January this year, the House of Representatives set up an ad hoc committee to investigate claims that N100bn was disbursed to states by the CBN to build “mini” cattle ranches across the country.

A member from Kogi state, Hon. Sunday Karimi, had informed the House that the National Economic Council approved the release of the money in 2014 under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Karimi in a motion informed the House that there was no evidence of ranches built in any state from the N100bn.