NSCDC UNDERCOVERS ILLEGAL FERTILIZER FACTORY IN NIGER STATE

Chinwendu Nnadozie  /  Minna The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command has uncovered a factory which mixed coloured clay with Notre Granule Urea and sold them to unsuspecting members of the public, particularly farmers as genuine fertilizer.The adulterated fertilizer factory owned by one, Hassan Karfe, who is now on the run, is located in a secluded compound directly behind the Abdulsalam Abubakar motor park in the Tunga area of Minna, the state capital.Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Philip Ayuba who announced the discovery to journalists said that they uncovered the factory during routine surveillance by the patrol team over the weekend.Investigations revealed that while genuine fertilizer sold for N7, 500 or more per 50kg bag, the fake fertilizer packaged by the factory sold for N4, 500.00.According to the NSCDC boss, “We are here to brief you of what our surveillance team has discovered lately. The illegal act is being perpetrated by some unpatriotic Nigerians who want to make money through a dubious means, some people are adulterating fertilizer.“What the people do is criminal, sabotaging Federal Government by mixing some concoctions with some coloured clay and mixed it with Notre Urea, for it to have the smell of fertilizer and selling same to unsuspecting farmers.“This act is not good for this country; it is evil because people put their money in farming business without knowing that they are buying fake fertilizer. This is another way of sabotaging the economy of this country because we know those who must have bought this type of fertilizer are into the business and expect bumper harvest”, he said.Although, no arrests were made because the operator of the factory was said to have fled on sighting the patrol team advancing towards the compound, the NSCDC Commandant, said that efforts were being made to track down the suspects and their accomplices.Items found inside the factory included; standby tipper loads of coloured clay, sack stitching/sealing machine, some sachets of Notre urea and as well bundles of empty 50 Kg bags with the inscription of the illegal company’s name on them.Mr. Ayuba expressed regrets that many unsuspecting Nigerians may have fallen victim to the antics of the fleeing suspects and would have wasted their money purchasing the adulterated fertilizer.He called on farmers in the state to beware of fraudsters and ensure they buy fertilizers from the approved distributors. He also enjoined farmers to insist on testing the commodity they bought henceforth before paying to ensure they are genuine.