News

Civil Society Groups For Good Governace (CCSGGG) Demystifies The Fadama Project

Published

5 years ago

April 7, 2021

A coalition of Civil Society Organizations under the aegis of Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG), has waded into the FADAMAaffair in a definitive attempt to balance the narrative in the public domain.

Addressing the nation during a press conference on Tuesday the 6th of April 2021 at the nation’s capital, president of CSGGG – Comrade Ogakwu Dominic Ogakwu – laid bare the details of the project, by undamming a flood of project information which was hitherto shrouded in mystery.

Says he “The controversy trailing the FADAMA project has necessitated this press briefing. The public domain has been inundated with all sorts of fallacious conspiracy theories, so much so that the ordinary Nigerian has been left in a quandary about the actual state of the nation.

Such a conundrum of disinformation and misinformation is the stuff of fake news, which is currently threatening the sanity of our polity. If this ugly trend is not nipped in the bud early enough, the fragile unity in diversity which Nigeria currently enjoys will soon be destroyed.

As champions of the fight against the spread of fake news therefore, it behooves the CSGGG to balance the narrative and set the records straight via an investigation into and objective reportage of the goings-on at FADAMA.”

Digging deep into the past, the coalition’s president – Comrade Ogakwu Dominic – took Nigerians on a ride down the FADAMA memory lane by reliving the history of the World Bank Project.

In his words, “FADAMA I which was the first of the series, started in 1990 with a design to bring basic irrigation and productive support to farmers in selected Nigerian states.

FADAMA II followed in 2003, introducing a groundbreaking Community-Driven Development (CDD) model to Nigeria’s rural areas and helping to institutionalize local stakeholder engagement in community decision making.

FADAMA III interventions began in 2009, during which time the Project’s geographical scope was expanded, so that it became a well-known National Brand of Local Agricultural Development Project.

Please note that the FADAMA III Project was originally approved by the Board on June 1, 2008, with a Credit facility of US$250 million, became effective on March 23, 2009 and closed by December 31, 2013.

Despite the successes so far recorded, the government saw that a lot still needs to be done if rural farmers are to benefit from this world bank scheme. So the government requested an additional financing for special interventions.

The World Bank responded to the request of the Government for more support, by providing additional financing to the FADAMA III project, in order to meet the urgency of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).

The Board approved additional IDA credit of USD 200 million on June 28, 2013, with the objective to assist the Federal Government of Nigeria to scale up impacts on the ground and strengthen the development effectiveness of the Third National FADAMA Development Project, by aligning it more closely with the then Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).”

Fleshing it out, ComradeOgakwu went on “This additional financing (AFI) used business approach model that supported clusters of farmers in the initial six selected States, who produce crops with comparative advantage and high potential to increase production and productivity, like; Cassava, Rice, Sorghum and Tomato value chains and thereafter linked them to better-organized markets (middle and large scale processors) through off taking arrangements.

The states which participated in the Additional Financing (AFI) scheme were, Anambra, Enugu, Kano, Kogi, Lagos and Niger–Core States, while additional twenty-eight (28) States including FCT (Production Clusters States) also benefitted from the project having met the set criteria. On average, the project was expected to reach 317,000 direct beneficiary households in clusters of farms and 1.4 million indirect beneficiaries across the country.

A Second Additional Financing (AFII) with a credit facility of USD50 million was approved by the Bank for humanitarian initiatives and restoration of livelihood of the people affected by insurgency, in the six North East (NE) States of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, and Gombe.

For emphasis, the first Additional Financing (AF I) scheme operated in 540 LGAs across 33 States and FCT, while the Second Additional Financing (AF II) operated in 108 LGAs of the six northeastern States of the country.”

Connecting the dots between investment and returns-on-investment, Ogakwu said “As at press time, our independent project assessment report shows that 100% of the beneficiaries have increased their real income by at least 40%. Yield has risen from a baseline of 5.27t/ha to 28.42t/ha for cassava (249.53%), 2.83t/ha to 5.35t/ha for rice (89.05%), 1.54t/ha to 2.71t/ha for sorghum (75.98%), and 1.6t/ha to 12.25t/ha for tomato (665.63%).

These increases across the 4 value chains, represents an average of 575.13% which is far above the average of 40% targeted at the onset of the project. The total hectares of land cultivated rose from 6,976ha at the MTR to 207,160ha – comprising Cassava (18,936 ha), Rice (132,717 ha), Sorghum (39,865 ha) and Tomato (15,642 ha). These achievements were recorded due to the adoption of Good Agronomic Practices (GAP), Capacity building of farmers, engagement of Advisory services and inputs support consultants (ASIC), linkages to off-takers, etc.

Again, in 2019, cassava farmers under Fadama III, AF I and AF II realized more than N20.6 billion as revenue and a gross margin of N13 billion. In the same vein, rice, sorghum and tomato farmers realized a gross margin of N104.4 billion, N60.9 billion and N19.2 billion respectively, during the project’s life span. Hence, the FADAMA 111 series have contributed substantially to the gross domestic product (GDP) and gross domestic income (GDI) of Nigeria from 2015 to 2019.

The livelihoods – crops, livestock, fisheries, and non-agricultural enterprises – of 32,480 farming households were restored in addition to receiving food assistance to the tune of 4,692 tons of rice, maize, beans and sorghum, 306,400 liters of cooking oil and 161tons of condiments, under the AF- II.

Altogether, about 950,400 days of work was provided the returnees and conflict-affected households, against the targeted 720,000 days.”

Taking a swipe at mischief makers peddling unfounded rumors of financial infractions during implementation of the FADAMA Series, the Comrade gave insight into the FADAMA coffers, by uncovering behind-the-scenes financial transactions unknown to the ordinary Nigerian. Hear him, “The savings in FUEF account as at the time of reporting was N609,189,766, saved from 305,048 assets worth N3,470,519,662 representing 17.55% of the value of assets. The FUEF management outlook is good as the sustainability purpose for which it was designed is being fulfilled, e.g. translating to the very first Famers-led Micro Finance Bank in Africa – the Plateau Fadama Farmers Micro Finance Bank – while others like AkwaIbom, Ogun etc are at advanced stages of delivery.

These achievements were recorded via a total of 25,191 Business Plans developed across the value chains, with rice having the highest 13,896, followed by cassava with 4,363, sorghum with 3,841, tomato 2,042 and the least is processing with 1,049. Of these numbers of business plans, a total of 22,595 (89.7%) was approved, with 18,650 (82.5%) implemented.

A total of 200,241 farmers cultivating 198,327 hectares across the thirty-three (33) FADAMA III and first Additional Financing (AF I) participating States, procured advisory services out of the 221,187 farmers who received project grants, translating to 90.5% achievement against the target of 30%. This was disaggregated into 154,040 males and 46,201 (23.1%) females.

Moreover, 215,129 farmers cultivating 214,919 hectares across the participating States, procured inputs out of the 221,187 farmers supported, translating to 97.26% achievement as against the target of 60%. Across the value chain, 18,626 were cassava farmers, 131,305 were into rice production, 40,784 sorghum farmers and 24,414 were tomato farmers.

The FADAMA series also made substantial progress along the lines of community-owned rural infrastructure, such as the construction of 580.7km of double-layer surface dressed roads in 133Nos locations across the participating States.”

Addressing the issue of stakeholders’ collaborations to ensure accountability, effectiveness and transparency, the CSGGG president said, “Interestingly, FADAMA III AF deployed a Multi-Agency Partnership (MAP) Collaboration approach during implementation, to ensure that all relevant players in the agricultural sector were carried along. These included; National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs), National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension (FDAE), National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), Upgrade of gene bank at Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria; and support to Lake Chad Research Institute, among others.

To ensure timely access to affordable and quality planting materials for beneficiaries, the Fadama III AF Project was designed to promote Community Seed Production. To successfully implement this, the project signed an MoU with National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), to create a platform for the two parties to work together and implement seeds production/multiplication activities.

In the area of Public/Private Partnership (PPP) the FADAMA project collaborated withThe Africa Commodity Exchange (AFEX) Ltd, Machine and Equipment Corporation Africa (MECA) Ltd, NIRSAL/Anchor Borrowers Program (ABP) among others.

“Furthermore,” Comrade Ogakwu went on, “Another laudable initiative of the FADAMA series is the Gene Bank scheme. Gene Bank is an archive containing records of crop genetic diversity. It plays a key role in the conservation, availability and use of a wide range of plant genetic diversity for crop improvement, food and nutrition security. The National Gene Bank domiciled in IAR, Zaria was upgraded to International standard, primarily to obviate the genetic resource material challenges confronting geneticists, especially in the zone and adequately equip the Research Institute to effectively and efficiently facilitate the establishment of Community Based Seed production system as well as provide foundation seed to beneficiaries. After the renovation of the Gene Bank, the center was equipped by the project, with state-of-the-art Gene Bank facilities.

Speaking of its ingenuity and innovative approach to perennial issues, Comrade Ogakwu noted, “A key accomplishment of the project is the adaptation of project structure and activities, in order to provide solution to national challenges – especially in graduate youth unemployment. For instance, 6,916 unemployed youth and women graduates who indicated interest to become agri-preneur were competitively selected by the project in 2017 and a total of 5,647 out of the 6,916 (representing 96%) were successfully revalidated.

The breakdown shows that 2,251 (40%) were for crop, 2,988 (53%) for livestock and 408 (7%) for non-farm enterprises. As at December 31, 2019, a total of N2.23B has been disbursed to 5,059 FADAMA beneficiaries, comprising 3,571 males (70.6%) and 1,488 females (29.4%). Results already being showcased by the first batch of beneficiaries (who employs a minimum of three workers each) presents a good opportunity for scaling up, reduction in unemployment, encouragement of youth in Agribusinesses, income-generating activities, etc.”

Ogakwu rounded up by providing data of the Project’s conflict resolutions mechanism. Says he, “Moreover, a total of 189,819 farmers/beneficiaries have been profiled and factored into the farmer database for AF I & II. Geo-referenced data of 170,609ha have been received and uploaded in the Geo-data base. All the 158 conflict cases reported in AF-I were resolved through the Grievances Redress Mechanism (GRM) in the communities. These grievances centered on land disputes with family members and cattle invasion of farms. Rice value chain had the highest (84) while infrastructure and sorghum had the least (2). In AF-II, 15 conflict cases were reported and resolved.”

With this interactive press conference/media parley and the avalanche of information therefrom, the Civil Society Groups for Good Governance (CSGGG) has effectively activated the Freedom of Information (FOI)Act and availed the ordinary Nigerian an opportunity to be in on the loop as regards the FADAMA Project, which has hitherto remained a mirage in the public space.

Therefore, by fleshing out this erstwhile phantom called FADAMA, the CSGGG has now demystified the Project and equipped the public with the right tool for informed decision and by so doing, build social trust for the handlers of the FADAMAProject.

News

The Most Shocking A/Court ‘Judgment’ in Nigerian History: An unfortunate precedent that should not be allowed to stand

Published

4 hours ago

November 30, 2025

milcah

The last is yet to be heard of wide ranging ex-parte orders as this time around, the charade has moved to the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division. In the case of FBN Quest & Another vs. Nestoil & Others, the Court of Appeal’s ex parte orders are not only egregious but a chilling sign of judicial capture, smacking of dirty practices at best and corruption at worst.

On Thursday, 27th November 2025, at exactly 2:00pm, Justice Yargata Nimpar delivered a ‘ruling ’ that appeared like a thief in the night, a ghost and unscheduled, the said decision came upon a Motion Ex-parte which was not heard not argued in open court, yet it surfaced, fully written, signed, stamped, and delivered as though it had lived a full life on the Court of Appeal docket.

For many Nigerians, the judiciary has again weathered the storms. Veterans of the legal system describe this episode as “a daylight heist… a judicial armed robbery without guns.”

The controversies over wide ranging ex-parte applications, it would seem, has found its way to the Court of appeal, an intermediate court with limited original jurisdiction as donated to it by statute.

In this instance, barely two weeks ago, we reported the ex-parte orders against NESTOIL and the other defendants listed in the suit before the Federal High Court which led to the transfer of the suit to another judge.

The said interim orders were vacated by effluxion of time, being that ex-parte orders last for only 14 days.

The court however ordered parties to maintain status quo and adjourned the Motion on Notice for hearing by the consent of the parties. That Motion is still pending before the Federal High Court.

It would seem that in order to frustrate that pending Motion, the Plaintiffs somehow filed a similar application to the Court of Appeal which was granted an order ex-parte directing the Lower Court not to take any further steps, including determining the pending application filed by Plaintiffs (now Appellants).

This magically resurrected, fast-tracked application seem to have been rubber-stamped at the fictional “Appeal Bench of Shadows,” as insiders have begun calling it.

A CASE THAT NEVER EXISTED — YET RECEIVED A JUDGMENT

Our Judiciary correspondent gathered that when the court’s official list for the day was released, nothing seemed amiss. No controversial cases. No unexpected hearings.

But somewhere inside the dusty chambers of bureaucracy, a secret file was already being prepared and by 2pm, a judgment carrying the signatures of an entire appeal panel had surfaced — even though none of them had appeared in open court and when the case itself had never been argued before any High Court, making an appellate ruling legally impossible.

By evening, whispers had turned into rumblings. Court workers who handled the mysterious document reported unusual instructions: No public sitting; No mention on the court list; No access to case filings; No digital record and No audio recording of proceedings. Yet an order was made retrospectively to undo a completed act! which is yet another impossibility in law, because the exparte order cannot restore what has been already executed.

“It was like dealing with a ghost file,” one clerk said. “It appeared from nowhere and disappeared into official archives as though it had always existed.”

This judgment, once delivered, spread like wildfire, with legal scholars calling it “a constitutional impossibility.” Veterans said they had never seen anything similar since the 1970s.

Enquiries from our judiciary correspondents indicate that an application can only be hinged upon a valid Notice of Appeal against a decision of a lower court before any application can be entertained at the Court of Appeal.

Further Investigations by our judiciary correspondent reveals that no such Notice of Appeal has been filed nor served on the respondents; no parties have been invited to Settle Records and no Records of Appeal have been transmitted.

One wonders the platform or upon which grounds the ex-parte order was made, observed one senior lawyer, especially as a similar pending application filed by the Appellants has been adjourned for Hearing by the Federal High Court.

Furthermore, the case at the trial court before Justice Osiagor has not been heard on its merits, which documents was placed before the appellate court and all applications before the judge has not been heard or is the court of appeal now a trial court.

A JUDICIARY AT A CROSSROADS

Public outrage rose quickly. Lawyers described the situation as “a hijacking of justice by shadowy interests.” Civil society groups demanded explanations.

A Judiciary where justice can be manufactured behind closed doors…a legal system where influence not merit, decides outcomes…and an institution tested by the weight of powerful external forces, et cetera should not be allowed to thrive.

AN ERA-DEFINING SCANDAL

This judgement will stand as one of the most dramatic challenges ever faced by Nigeria’s justice system. The shockwaves has rippled far beyond the courtroom — touching politics, business, security agencies, and public trust.

One thing is clear: This is the kind of judicial earthquake that rewrites history, shakes institutions, and forces a nation to confront the truths it fears the most. Our judicial correspondences were able to get an incline of the ex-parte orders made by the Court of Appeal as follows:

AN ORDER of interim restorative injunction reversing all steps taken by the Respondents and/or persons purporting to act on the instructions of the Respondents and which steps or actions were taken pursuant to the order of the Federal High Court coram Osiagor, J made on the 20th day of November 2025 pending the hearing and determination of the Appellants’ Motion on Notice filed on the 26th day of November 2025.
AN ORDER of interim injunction restraining the Respondents, their agents, servants, affiliates, and privies from interfering with and interrupting the Receiver/Manager in the performance of his duties pending the hearing and determination of the Appellants’ Motion on Notice filed on 26th November 2025.
AN ORDER staying further proceedings at the lower court pending the hearing and determination of the Appellants’ Motion on Notice filed on the 26th November 2025.

A SHOCKING DEPARTURE FROM JUDICIAL NORMS

Therefore, the Lagos Court of Appeal’s decision to grant ex parte orders in FBN Quest & Another vs. Nestoil & Others stunned the legal community as ex-parte rulings are meant for rare emergencies and hardly exercised by appellate courts. By acting without hearing both sides, while the matter was already before the Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal has undermined the principle of natural justice and distorted its own role.

NIGERIAN IMAGE AT RISK

At a time when Nigeria is striving to reposition its global reputation, this case sends the wrong message. It portrays the country as one where courts can be hijacked by private interests, where fairness is discarded, and where corruption lurks behind judicial robes. For investors and international partners, it reinforces damaging stereotypes of weak institutions and compromised justice.

AN URGENT CALL FOR INVESTIGATION

These orders are not just irregular — they are evidence of judicial capture. They must be investigated urgently. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, the National Judicial Council, the President of the Court of Appeal and the Nigerian Bar Association cannot remain silent. If appellate courts become arenas for ex-parte adventures, Nigeria’s justice system risks collapse under the weight of manipulation.

CLOSING NOTE

The Court of Appeal’s conduct in FBN Quest & Another vs. Nestoil & Others is more than a misstep, it is a warning sign of judicial capture. If Nigeria is serious about restoring its image and strengthening democracy, this case must be investigated, accountability enforced, and reforms implemented. Anything less would be an abdication of the judiciary’s sacred duty to uphold justice. We must not allow that to happen.
A very Senior lawyer emphasize that the exparte order of the court of appeal lagos division in Nestoil has the possibility of eroding administrative control of Heads of superior Court from assigning or re assigning matters within their respective courts. Furthermore both the President of the Court of Appeal and the Chief Justice of Nigeria may not have the authority to disband a panel and re- constitute another panel over any matter in their respective courts. This decision is a total anarchy to the judiciary and urgent steps must be taken to vacate the strange Court of appeal exparte order.

The conduct of the court of appeal justices is not excusable anywhere in the world and it’s indeed has brought the court of Appeal justices who constituted the panel to ridicule

News

Pius Akutah’s Alleged Fraud at Nigerian Shippers Council Uncovered

Published

2 days ago

November 28, 2025

milcah

Investigations by Nigerian Concord Newspaper reveal that the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr. Pius Akutah, has allegedly misappropriated public funds for a lavish lifestyle.

According to our findings, within months of assuming office, Akutah allegedly purchased a bulletproof SUV valued at approximately N850 million. In addition, he is reported to have acquired over twenty exotic SUVs for use as a convoy.

Akutah is also said to have acquired multiple high-value properties, including three in Abuja’s Maitama and Asokoro districts worth over N2 billion, and two in Lagos’ Banana Island valued at N1.8 billion. These acquisitions appear far beyond the scope of his official salary and allowances.

Further investigation suggests that Akutah may be using public funds to support political ambitions, including allegedly grooming militants across 23 local government areas in Benue State for a potential 2027 gubernatorial bid.

Staff of the Shippers Council reportedly claim that Akutah frequently accesses the council’s treasury without proper authorization. Some insiders have indicated that a petition will soon be filed with the EFCC, ICPC, and the Presidency to report his alleged misconduct.