A farmer challenges Governor Abiodun’s claims of owning the 200-hectare rice plantation, asserting it’s his project with partial government support.
[dropcap]B[/dropcap]ello Zabarmawa, a young farmer and special adviser to the Kebbi State Governor, has disputed claims made by Governor Dapo Abiodun about the ownership of a 200-hectare rice plantation in Magboro, Ogun State.
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According to Zabarmawa, the plantation was his initiative, not a project funded by Abiodun’s administration with support from the World Bank.
Governor Abiodun and his team, including photographers and videographers, visited the plantation last month, with the governor posing for pictures and promoting the project as a success story for Ogun State’s rice production.
Abiodun’s media team highlighted the state’s achievement in growing local rice and raised expectations among residents for affordable rice.
However, Zabarmawa has clarified that the project was self-funded, with the Ogun State government only providing partial support.
He explained that after discovering the plantation-friendly soil in Magboro in 2019, he arranged an interest-free loan for about 200 farmers and invested heavily in clearing the land and preparing it for planting. He later sought additional government assistance due to the project’s scale.
Zabarmawa acknowledged that the Ogun State government contributed 50 per cent of the cost for clearing the land and supplied fertilisers, but he funded the remaining costs himself.
He also reported that the government’s promised support had not fully materialised, despite the governor’s high-profile visit during the harvest.
The farmer expressed frustration over the high costs of running the plantation, including daily labour expenses.
He has provided substantial loans to fellow farmers, aiming to create employment and support local agriculture. Zabarmawa called for greater government support to continue and expand the project.
A bureau de change operator turned farmer, Abu Garba, who benefited from Zabarmawa’s loans, confirmed that Zabarmawa was the primary financial supporter.
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Despite the governor’s statements implying full government ownership and funding, Zabarmawa has shouldered the majority of the financial burden.
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