Community News
Shocking revelations as N84.8 million for fishing starter kits vanishes in Akwa Ibom Community
Written By: Emmanuel Ikhenebome
11 Dec 2025 05:55 AM
Apapa, Lagos – In a damning exposé that's sending shockwaves through Nigeria's anti-corruption circles, civic technology platform MonITNG has uncovered a glaring case of alleged fund misappropriation involving the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology in Lagos.
On August 31, 2024, the institution disbursed a whopping N84.8 million to AGLANP Logistics Services Ltd for the procurement and delivery of essential starter kits to the fishing-dependent community of Ifuho in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
Sixteen months later, not a single item has reached the intended beneficiaries, leaving families in poverty and the waters of their livelihoods untransformed.
The starter kits, touted as a lifeline for local fishermen, fish farmers, women processors, and youth, were meant to include motorized boats, outboard engines, durable fishing nets, modern fish smoking kilns, life jackets, and hands-on training programs.
"That N84.8 million could have pulled families out of poverty, increased daily income, reduced fish wastage, created small businesses, and put food on more tables," MonITNG stated in a X post on Thursday, tagging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for immediate action.
Instead, the community reports total silence. No deliveries, no explanations, and no trace of the promised equipment.
Residents of Ifuho, a riverside enclave where fishing is the backbone of survival, expressed frustration to Tracka—a citizen-led tracking initiative under BudgIT during a recent field visit.
Many potential beneficiaries remain in the dark about what they were even entitled to receive.
"The money disappeared the moment it left government coffers," the post lamented, framing this as a symptom of broader rot in Nigeria's constituency "empowerment" projects.
These initiatives, often championed by federal lawmakers, see billions budgeted annually, with payments rushed to contractors who are frequently party loyalists, only for communities to be left with "broken promises."
The revelation stems from data scraped via the GovSpend platform, a transparency tool that shines a light on federal government expenditures. Screenshots shared by MonITNG show the initial transaction: N48.7 million wired to AGLANP for "full payment for provision of starter kits" in the area (with a minor N6,034.08 remittance to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, likely for withholding tax).
While the visible amount falls short of the total cited, MonITNG asserts the full N84.8 million was transferred, underscoring the urgency for forensic auditing.
This isn't an isolated incident. Similar scandals have plagued empowerment schemes across Nigeria, where funds evaporate amid lax oversight.
MonITNG's call to action is that, the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, must release procurement documents, itemized lists, delivery proofs, and a clear timeline.
"We commend the Tracka team for exposing this fraud through the GovSpend platform. Because of your work, the truth is out," the post concluded
As Nigeria grapples with economic hardships and food insecurity, this story serves as a stark reminder of how public funds meant for upliftment can fuel despair.
Will the authorities heed the cry from Ifuho's shores? The people and the fish are waiting.
On August 31, 2024, the institution disbursed a whopping N84.8 million to AGLANP Logistics Services Ltd for the procurement and delivery of essential starter kits to the fishing-dependent community of Ifuho in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
Sixteen months later, not a single item has reached the intended beneficiaries, leaving families in poverty and the waters of their livelihoods untransformed.
The starter kits, touted as a lifeline for local fishermen, fish farmers, women processors, and youth, were meant to include motorized boats, outboard engines, durable fishing nets, modern fish smoking kilns, life jackets, and hands-on training programs.
"That N84.8 million could have pulled families out of poverty, increased daily income, reduced fish wastage, created small businesses, and put food on more tables," MonITNG stated in a X post on Thursday, tagging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for immediate action.
Instead, the community reports total silence. No deliveries, no explanations, and no trace of the promised equipment.
Residents of Ifuho, a riverside enclave where fishing is the backbone of survival, expressed frustration to Tracka—a citizen-led tracking initiative under BudgIT during a recent field visit.
Many potential beneficiaries remain in the dark about what they were even entitled to receive.
"The money disappeared the moment it left government coffers," the post lamented, framing this as a symptom of broader rot in Nigeria's constituency "empowerment" projects.
These initiatives, often championed by federal lawmakers, see billions budgeted annually, with payments rushed to contractors who are frequently party loyalists, only for communities to be left with "broken promises."
The revelation stems from data scraped via the GovSpend platform, a transparency tool that shines a light on federal government expenditures. Screenshots shared by MonITNG show the initial transaction: N48.7 million wired to AGLANP for "full payment for provision of starter kits" in the area (with a minor N6,034.08 remittance to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, likely for withholding tax).
While the visible amount falls short of the total cited, MonITNG asserts the full N84.8 million was transferred, underscoring the urgency for forensic auditing.
This isn't an isolated incident. Similar scandals have plagued empowerment schemes across Nigeria, where funds evaporate amid lax oversight.
MonITNG's call to action is that, the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, must release procurement documents, itemized lists, delivery proofs, and a clear timeline.
"We commend the Tracka team for exposing this fraud through the GovSpend platform. Because of your work, the truth is out," the post concluded
As Nigeria grapples with economic hardships and food insecurity, this story serves as a stark reminder of how public funds meant for upliftment can fuel despair.
Will the authorities heed the cry from Ifuho's shores? The people and the fish are waiting.
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