….Says 988 shared at the venue, 212 kept in store, 18 missing, as change of venue at late hours almost destroyed all arrangements
….Says Two Commissioners from Toto headed the committee, traditional rulers are members and introduced measures for distribution
…Protest against exclusions of 12 Electoral ward councilors
The Executive chairman of Toto local government area of Nasarawa State, Honourable Aliyu Abdullahi Tashas has cleared the air on the controversy trailing the recent distribution of Fertilizers to farmers in Toto local government area.
Hon Tashas said he would have kept quite pending the outcome of the investigation since a petition has been initiated by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Shuaibu Labaran Magaji as to know what really went wrong during the distribution.
This is contained in a statement signed and available to newsmen by Yahaya Idris Toto, the SSA on Media and publicity to the the Chairman Toto LGC on Wednesday.
The Chairman disclosed that he was in receipt of 1200 50k Fertilizers which arrived Toto on two Dangote trucks on 13th July, 2024.
He said Prior to the arrival of the Fertilizers, a committee was setup headed by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Gaza Gwamna as Chairman and while his counterpart from Ministry of Justice, Commissioner for Justice, Hon Shaibu Labaran Magaji served as Co-Chairman
The Chairman himself alongside, JNI, CAN, First class traditional rulers from Toto, Buga-Karmo, Nakuse, Umaisha, Gadabuke and others served as members of the committee.
Hon Tashas who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant, SSA, Media and Publicity, Yahaya Idris Toto, explained that the Chairman of the Committee and Commissioner for Health, Dr. Gwamna Gaza initiated a stakeholders meeting in the chairman office, Toto LGC secretariat, Saturday 6th July, 2024 with all committee members present except Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Barr Labaran Shuaibu Magaji who was not able to attend due to one reason or the other.
He also said he made commitment to include all the councilors as being closer to the grassroots will do better in area of distribution, adding that such will promote fairness and accountability, but his effort faced strict resistance on the order that no councilors allowed to be in the committee
According to the Chairman, the Fertilizers was safely kept at the official residence of the council boss (Toto House), council secretariat.
He said while preparation was into gear to receive the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe for official flaggoff, a call came in through his phone that a new venue has been suggested by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr Shuaibu Labaran Magaji, he couldn’t resist but rather cooperate with the commissioner as to have smooth distribution.
He said the former venue housing the Fertilizers was actually the venue certified by all stakeholders and leaders of the committee, however, the new venue was GSS Toto, which is the beginning of the confusion. They have to start rushing as to meet up with the time but only got 988 bags to the venue, while 212 remained in the store.
Following introduction of new venue and despite that he was not the Committee chairman nor the Co-Chairman he mobilised resources for immediate evacuation of the agricultural products to a new venue, mounted several canopies and chairs to received the deputy governor.
During transferring of the Fertilizers, the deputy Governor and his convoy arrived Toto, then, those incharge of transferring the products has to stop in order not to distract the ongoing protocol.
The Chairman noted that they were able to transport only 988 bags to the venue, while the remaining 212 bags remained in the store as not already established protocol of the deputy Governor.
The Chairman said immediate after the flaggoff, the Health Commissioner Gaza Gwamna, himself and some security heads moved straight to the store on the spot assement, where they met 212 bags and discovered that 18 Fertilizers was missing during transferring from old venue to a new venue.
The Chairman frowned at changing of the venue same day fixed for flaggoff, noting that the change of venue brought the controversy.
Speaking further, the chairman explained that only Toto and Buga-karmo wards got highest number of 192 bags because of its population and number.
The statement quoted the chairman as appreciating the Federal and State government for making this year farming season more easier for farmers in Toto LGA.
He also commended the stakeholders who stood firmly to ensure the necessary things are done in the right proportion. The statement added.