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In a heartbreaking plea that underscores the fragility of Nigeria’s agricultural supply chain, contractors who provided agrochemicals and farm inputs to the Benue State Government during the 2024 cropping season are now turning to Governor Hyacinth Alia for urgent intervention. These suppliers, essential to the state’s farming programs, claim they are facing severe hardships due to delayed payments, with some reporting critical illnesses and even deaths among their members caused by the financial and emotional strain.
The contractors revealed that many took out bank loans to finance the delivery of fertilizers, pesticides, and other vital inputs aimed at boosting food production in Benue, often hailed as Nigeria’s “Food Basket.” With interest rates piling up and no payments in sight, they warn of an imminent collapse—businesses on the brink of closure, properties at risk of seizure, and families pushed to the edge of despair.
This isn’t just a story of delayed bureaucracy; it’s a human crisis unfolding in real time. Suppliers who stepped up to support government initiatives for agricultural development now find themselves abandoned, their contributions to food security hanging by a thread. The group emphasized that without swift action, the ripple effects could undermine Benue’s farming output for seasons to come, threatening livelihoods far beyond their own.
Governor Alia’s administration has yet to respond publicly to these appeals, but the contractors are calling for immediate verification and settlement of all outstanding dues. In a state where agriculture drives the economy, resolving this could restore faith in public-private partnerships and prevent a broader fallout. For now, these business owners wait, hoping their voices cut through the silence before more lives are lost to the weight of unpaid promises.
