I woke up this Sunday with a heavy heart, deeply troubled by the challenges confronting Nigeria. The persistent thought of the rising cost of food loomed large in my mind, compelling me to contemplate the moral obligation our nation bears to ensure that no Nigerian, regardless of age or social status, goes to bed hungry. In light of this, I turned my attention to a crucial document that often embodies both hope and concern for our future: the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
As I perused the details of the budget, a glaring anomaly caught my eye. On Page 4, ZIP20250226 reads: “Provision of tailoring, welding, mechanical, aluminum, tiling, and agricultural tools/equipment for artisans and farmers to enhance productivity in Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, Kogi State.” The allocated sum for this project is a staggering ₦100,000,000, with the Cocoa Research Institute of Ibadan designated as the implementing agency.
This revelation prompted a series of urgent questions: What business does the Cocoa Research Institute, an institution dedicated to advancing cocoa research, have in executing projects related to tailoring and welding in Kogi State? If this esteemed institute is now tasked with such assignments, what becomes of actual cocoa research in Nigeria?
My curiosity propelled me to delve deeper, only to uncover a disturbing pattern. Similar lines in the budget pointed toward projects of empowerment and resource distribution, with ZIP20250227 for the empowerment of women in Kano State, ZIP20250228 for the supply of grains in Sokoto, and ZIP20250229 for providing sewing machines in Ninji and Silame Local Government Areas. Each of these initiatives carries a cost ranging from ₦10 million to ₦77 million, allocated to agencies that appear ill-equipped to handle them.
What troubles me is not merely the disjunction between agencies and the projects they are to oversee, but the broader implications that follow:
1. Duplication and Waste: The funding allocated to agencies for projects outside their core functions creates a breeding ground for inefficiency and misappropriation of resources. When funds meant to uplift communities are mismanaged, the most vulnerable Nigerians suffer the most.
2. Loss of Institutional Focus: Institutions like the Cocoa Research Institute should be laser-focused on agricultural research to improve yields and assist farmers. By drifting into unrelated projects, they dilute their potential to impact Nigeria’s agricultural sector meaningfully.
3. Poor Coordination and Oversight: Lack of clarity on who approves these projects compounds the issue. Are these budgets scrutinized diligently? Are agencies held accountable for their outcomes? In the absence of stringent oversight, we risk perpetuating a cycle of waste and inefficiency.
4. The Big Picture Lost: In the face of escalating hunger and food insecurity, how do these fragmented and misplaced budget allocations lead us toward achieving food sufficiency and establishing a sustainable agricultural framework?
The pressing question now is: Who bears the responsibility for this misuse of public funds? Is it the lawmakers inserting these so-called “Zonal Intervention Projects”? Is it the ministries and agencies that accept to implement them, or is it the oversight bodies that seem either complicit or inattentive?
When our national research institutions, designed to drive progress, become mere contractors for projects that detract from their core missions, we are left grappling with more than just a budgeting issue; we are facing a profound crisis of governance and accountability.
I urge the National Assembly, the Budget Office, civil society organizations, and every conscientious Nigerian to take a stand. This is not merely a matter of ₦10 million or ₦50 million. It speaks to a systemic weakening of our institutions, a troubling erosion of accountability, and a worrying diversion of national resources from legitimate development priorities.
Let us rise together in unison. Let us ask hard questions. Let us demand better from those whom we have entrusted with our nation’s future. Nigeria possesses immense potential, but this can only be realized if we collectively remain vigilant and actively engaged. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to ensure that public trust is honored with transparent and effective governance. The time for action is now.
Otunba Abdulfalil Abayomi Odunowo
National Chairman AATSG
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