To Prosecute Rice, Wheat Loan DefaultersThe Kebbi State Government has purchased 40 new transformers at the cost of N150 million in order to improve power supply in the state.The state commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Arch Bala Sani Kangiwa made this known to newsmen yesterday in Government House Birnin Kebbi.He said the State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has approved the purchase of 40 transformers and immediately directed for their ispatch across the designated areas in the state. You may recall that recently, I informed you that the governor has given approval of 40 new transformers at the cost of 150 million naira. The governor visited the site where we kept the transformers and directed us to immediately dispatch and installed them across the state, he said.The commissioner added that the transformers comprises 28 new 500 KVA and 7 new 300 KVA and for emergency reasons 5 new 500 KVA transformers have been installed in Hajiya Turai General Hospital, Zauro/Ambursa, Haliru Abdu Secretariat and 3 were installed in Jega township.He urged the benefitting communities to imbibe spirit of maintenance culture and reciprocate the kind gesture by cooperating with the state government.Meanwhile, the state government has constituted a mobile court to prosecute rice and wheat farmers who collected the anchor borrowers loan from the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) of which the state government stood as their guarantors.The state deputy governor Col. Samaila Yombe Dabai (rtd) after inaugurating the team headed by a Chief Magistrate led the team to Suru town in Suru Local Government Area to demand for the repayment of the loan and prosecutes possible defaulters.The state government has given the rice and wheat farmers that were given loan by the Bank of Agriculture under the Anchor Borrowers Programme in Suru local government area of the state three weeks to pay back or face prosecution.Over 11,000 farmers benefitted from the loan in Suru area of the state but the state government and officials of Bank of Agriculture havebeen having some difficulties since last year in getting the farmers to pay back the loan.A loan of N128, 200 was given to each of the farmers to produce rice and wheat under the federal government sponsored agricultural programme.Speaking to newsmen shortly after his meeting with the District Headof Suru town over the recovery of the loan, the deputy governor, Alhaji Samaila Yombe Dabai explained that part of the state governors campaign promises to the people was to transform the state in the area of agriculture, in collaboration with the federal government and stood as guarantor for the loan to be disbursed to the farmers, mostly the rice farmers.He explained further that it has become very unfortunate that the state government has to resort to legal action to get the money back from the farmers after series of passivation and emissaries through the village and District Heads, all to no avails.The deputy governor however said that because of the intervention and plea from the Council Chairman and the District Head, he has decided to stay action on prosecuting defaulters and giving them the three weeks grace which the District Head pleaded for on their behalf to pay back the money.
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