Maize farmers engage DSS, EFCC, Police to recover Anchor Borrowers loans
The Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN) has enlisted the support of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigeria Police to recover Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) loans from defaulting members. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, MAAN’s National President, Dr. Bello Abubakar, stressed that the […]
The Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN) has enlisted the support of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigeria Police to recover Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) loans from defaulting members.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, MAAN’s National President, Dr. Bello Abubakar, stressed that the ABP, a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) initiative, was designed as a revolving loan scheme that must be fully repaid to sustain its impact.
He said, “Many farmers assumed the loan was a ‘national cake.’ MAAN has been forced to issue several demand letters to defaulters and seek collaboration with law enforcement and anti-graft agencies in line with the Federal Government’s loan recovery policy.”
Dr. Abubakar lamented that some defaulting farmers attempted to evade repayment by dragging the association and its partners to court, alleging violations of their human rights.
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He confirmed that MAAN had also taken legal action against some defaulters, with most of the cases still pending.
The MAAN president further said insecurity had severely impacted members, with farms and farmers attacked, kidnapped, or killed by bandits in Niger, Zamfara, Katsina, Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Ondo, and Ekiti states.
Flooding, he said, had also ravaged farmlands in Kogi, Benue, Cross River, Jigawa, Katsina, Taraba, Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara states, while drought threatened farmers in Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Ondo, Ekiti, and Benue.
Dr. Abubakar urged the federal government to create an enabling environment for smallholder farmers to settle outstanding loans, meet domestic demand, and contribute to exports.