FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The National Cotton Association of Nigeria, Katsina State Chapter, has strongly disputed allegations made by Mairiga Iliyasu Malumfashi, accusing the association of violating due process in recovering loans given to farmers in the state.
According to Nura Ahmed Malumfashi, State Secretary of the association, Mairiga Iliyasu's allegations are baseless and motivated by personal interests.
Ahmed pointed out that Mairiga Iliyasu is a guarantor to his parents and elder sister, who have started repaying their loans but failed to complete the payments.
The association said it is unfortunate that instead of seeking clarification on the loan agreement, Mairiga Iliyasu resorted to a media trial against the secretary of the association.
The loan agreement as clarified by Nura Ahmed was designed to provide financial support to potential farmers to cultivate cotton, with repayment to be made by cotton during harvest.
The association has been working diligently to ensure that beneficiaries comply with the terms of the agreement.
"We urge all beneficiaries to disregard Mairiga Iliyasu's allegations and continue to repay their loans as agreed," Ahmed said.
We are committed to recovering all loans given to beneficiaries under the Anchor Borrower Programme and have recently defended ourselves at the offices of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Department of State Service.
"We appreciate the government's efforts to support farmers and look forward to continued collaboration," Ahmed said.
The association has challenged Mairiga Iliyasu to provide evidence to support his allegations within one week. Specifically, we want him to prove that the association sent a bank account with a female name to receive money and that people who repaid their loans were not given receipts. Failure to provide such evidence will leave the association with no option but to seek legal redress in a competent court of law.
"We will not let baseless allegations tarnish our reputation," Ahmed said.
The association has expressed its profound gratitude to Governor Dikko Radda and President Tinubu for their efforts to boost farming activities in the state and the country at large.
We urged all beneficiaries of the loan programme to utilize the funds for their intended purpose and avoid diverting them to other uses. This will help prevent issues related to loan repayment and ensure the sustainability of the programme.
"We will continue to work tirelessly to support farmers and promote the cultivation of cotton in Katsina State."
Nura Ahmed
State Secretary, National Cotton Association of Nigeria, Katsina State Chapter
July 8, 2025.
