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Anchor Borrowers’ Programme Abused: Bashir Ahmad Details Shocking Fund Diversions by Beneficiaries”
Bashir Ahmad, a former media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, has revealed that many beneficiaries of the federal government’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) misused the loans disbursed under the scheme.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a post shared via his handle, Ahmad alleged that numerous Nigerian farmers who received funds through the programme failed to invest them in agriculture as intended. Instead, he said, they diverted the loans to unrelated sectors such as oil and gas, bureau de change operations, and luxury businesses.
Ahmad’s disclosure came in response to a comment by an user, Yakubu Wudil, who questioned the rationale behind the current administration’s decision to grant import waivers as a strategy to lower food prices. Wudil suggested that the government should instead subsidize farm inputs like fertilizer and fuel, and provide modern equipment to farmers.
In his response, Ahmad recounted how billions of naira allocated to farmers under the ABP were either misappropriated or hoarded for speculative gains. He noted that while some beneficiaries diverted the funds outright, others who engaged in actual farming withheld their produce, waiting for price surges in order to rake in excessive profits—thereby undermining the programme’s core objectives.
“Billions were disbursed with the intention of boosting food security, reducing poverty, and tackling unemployment and insecurity,” Ahmad said. “Some farmers received up to ₦6 billion, yet instead of investing in agriculture, many channeled the funds into other ventures.”
He added: “Even those who did farm ended up hoarding their harvests to manipulate market prices, putting profit above the welfare of the masses the programme was designed to help.”
The Anchor Borrowers’ Programme was launched by the Buhari administration in 2015 to bridge the gap between processing companies and smallholder farmers involved in the cultivation of key agricultural commodities.
As of 2023, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reported that it had disbursed over ₦1.09 trillion under the programme since inception.
The 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began nationwide on Thursday, with over 2.2 million candidates expected to participate across accredited centres.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The exam, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), will run from April 16 to April 22 in multiple daily sessions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged examination officials to remain highly committed and professional, noting that the success of the exercise depends largely on their dedication.
He gave the charge during a virtual final briefing for technical officers ahead of the examination, where he also praised staff, ad hoc personnel, service providers, and technical advisers for their roles in the successful conduct of the mock exam.
Oloyede said many of the issues recorded during the mock exercise were due to poor assessment of centres by some technical officials.
He further stated that incentive packages would be awarded to teams that perform exceptionally, particularly in handling exam materials and submitting timely reports.
Reiterating JAMB’s zero-tolerance stance on malpractice, he warned candidates against bringing prohibited items into examination halls.
He also disclosed that biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems have been deployed to protect the integrity of the exercise.
Candidates whose biometrics cannot be verified, he added, will be rescheduled to write the exam at approved centres.
Meanwhile, a NAN correspondent monitoring proceedings at Aduvie International School, Jahi, reported that the first session scheduled for 8:30 a.m. began slightly behind schedule at about 8:40 a.m.
The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, on Thursday inspected security deployments at Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to the FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the inspection is part of proactive measures to ensure a smooth, peaceful, and hitch-free conduct of the ongoing examinations.
The UTME is scheduled to run nationwide from April 16 to 18, 2026.
During the exercise, CP Sanusi assessed security arrangements put in place to safeguard candidates, examination officials, and CBT facilities.
He also engaged with centre supervisors, assuring them of adequate security presence throughout the examination period.
Adeh added that the CP reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that any attempt to disrupt the examinations would be met with decisive action in line with the law.
Over 700 former terrorists who have undergone deradicalisation and rehabilitation are set to be reintegrated into their communities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Nigerian military has also dismissed reports alleging that beneficiaries of Operation Safe Corridor are being recruited into military institutions.
According to African Independent Television, the Coordinator of Operation Safe Corridor, Brigadier-General Yusuf Ali, made this known during a media tour of the Deradicalisation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre in Gombe, North-East Nigeria.
He said many Nigerians still misunderstand the Federal Government’s structured counter-terrorism initiative, which is designed to restore peace in communities affected by insurgency.
Brigadier-General Ali explained that the programme focuses on rehabilitation and peaceful reintegration of repentant individuals into society.
During the tour, some of the participants also shared accounts of their involvement in offences that led to their admission into the programme.
The facility inspection was part of preparations for the graduation of over 700 clients who have completed the deradicalisation and rehabilitation process and are set for reintegration.
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