Bauchi Commerce Chamber Expresses Skepticism On N21bn CBN Agric, Business Loans

The president of Bauchi state chamber of commerce, industry, mines and agriculture (BACCIMA) Alh. Aminu Mohammed has expressed skepticism that Bauchi has expended the sum of N21 billion from the loanable amount to Farmers and business entrepreneurs provision of the federal government.

“The federal government has been providing money to all CBN branches all over the federation to loan the money out to small scale and big time farmers, but that of Bauchi last year I was told when I became president of the chamber, I went to them to inquire, they said the sum of N21 billion was expended in the name of Bauchi.

The new chamber of commerce, state president was yesterday speaking when he received in audience, officials of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by Ahmed Mohammed on a courtesy visit in his office to inquire about the agric loans being provided to the people, having have interest in farmin10.5g.

Alh. Aminu Mohammed, who also holds the traditional of Dan-malikin Bauchi however argued that its not the people of Bauchi that collected most of the agricultural loans, saying “Yes the beneficiaries came from elsewhere, so these are some of the things there is collusion between the bankers because the money comes through the commercial banks, the CBN and the business community.”

He told the journalists, “I don’t know what is wrong with us Nigerians, Federal government policies irrespective of whoever was in charge, they are good, particularly for agriculture, what is bad is the implementation of those policies, and that is where you will hammer”.

Aminu alleged collusion between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the commercial banks through which the agric loans are being made available to the beneficiaries, saying “Bauchi being an agrarian state that is where farmers would be glad to be assisted.”

He therefore urged any would-be beneficiary of such loans including the journalists to follow the appropriate procedure to obtain it, assuring that of the Chambers support for follows- up, stressing that the main preoccupation of the chamber is to promote businesses in the country.

Alhaji Danmaliki who is also the Proprietor of Malikiyya College of Health sciences and technology Bauchi expressed delight that members of the chapel visiting him to synergize and collaborate in areas of economic diversification apart from the Journalism work, encourage journalists in Nigeria to adopt economic diversification to complement their incomes.

“I am delighted to hear that you have taken serious steps to diversify, it is indeed good to diversify. If I had not diversified areas of work maybe we wouldn’t have been sitting here. So you have made a good decision.
“Whatever you are doing, get a second alternative particularly the one that will bring fortune for you because the situation as it is in Nigeria today, salary alone will not work, you have to get other means of survival.

“I wish you all the best in your efforts to diversify, some of you have taken into farming, which is good. I just don’t know what is wrong with us Nigerians, federal government policies irrespective of who was in-charge. They are good particularly for agriculture but the bad part of it is the implementation of those policies and that is why you should hammer why is the implementation poorly made?”

“We the chambers of commerce came out with a policy of enlightening the public, so I urge you as journalists to help enlighten them about the intervention provided by the CBN to the business community and the farmers. Tell them that it is readily available for them there and the conditions are not that stiff, the highest condition is associated with the amount of money you want to borrow, if you to borrow a billion I know they will ask of collateral but if it is a million, two million I don’t think you will not be qualified to get it and that will help you in your farms or businesses.

“It is our responsibility as chamber that once you apply, even before you apply we will recommend to the banks that you are serious business people, we trust that if the loan is granted to you you will pay back as at when due and we will follow it up for you.”

“The general trend in Nigeria is that things are not going well, I don’t know, Nigeria has no business been poor, the resources are abundantly available, it’s just that the money is been covered by the civil servants, they will it’s politicians but it’s a kind of collaboration with the politicians, it’s the civil servants that shows the loopholes to the politicians where they can dip their hands and take Public funds.”