SAHARA REPORTERS
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has budgeted the sum of N600 million under Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria – Ibadan, for provision of street lights, supply of empowerment materials to artisans and market women and supply of CNG buses to unidentified beneficiaries in Lagos State.
This was revealed during an analysis of the 2024 Fiscal Appropriation Act, a copy of which was obtained from the website of Nigeria’s Budget Office.
The Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) was established in Ibadan, Oyo State on 1st December, 1964 as a successor autonomous research organisation to the Nigerian Substation of the defunct West African Cocoa Research Institute (WACRI).
Operating under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in Ibadan has the sole mission “To apply science and technology in increasing productivity, improving quality and value addition of Cashew, Cocoa, Coffee, Kola and Tea,” and the vision “To be a centre of excellence of international repute in the research and development of Cashew, Cocoa, Coffee, Kola and Tea.”
However, SaharaReporters’ analysis of the 2024 Fiscal Appropriation Act revealed that Tinubu’s administration budgeted the sum of N100 million for the “Provision of grant and empowerment to artisans in Somolu Federal Constituency, Lagos State,” under Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria – Ibadan.
Another N100 million was budgeted under Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria – Ibadan for “Provision of empowerment materials for artisans and market women in Ojo Federal Constituency, Lagos State,” while the sum of N100 million was budgeted for “Supply of CNG buses in Badagry Federal Constituency,” in Lagos to unidentified beneficiaries.
Also, the sum of N100 million was budgeted under Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria – Ibadan, for “Supply and installation of solar street lights in ODM Olawoye/Ojuwoye communities in Mushin 1 Federal Constituency.”
The sum of N200 million was budgeted for “Provision and installation of solar street lights in FESTAC town of Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency, Lagos State” and “Supply and installation of all-in-one solar powered street lights in Ifako/Jaiye Federal Constituency, Lagos State,” under the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria – Ibadan.
THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN SAHARA REPORTERS
