Financial Scrutiny Reveals Controversial Expenditures at Federal College of Horticulture
An investigation into the financial transactions of the Federal College of Horticulture in Dadin Kowa, Gombe State, has unveiled significant spending anomalies. Recent records indicate that the institution disbursed over ₦2.5 billion to a contractor in a mere 24 hours, raising eyebrows regarding the nature and purpose of these funds.
The college was established on April 19, 2002, under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, with the vision of becoming the first specialized horticultural university in sub-Saharan Africa. Its primary mission, as outlined by the Nigerian Agricultural Research Council, is to educate and train professionals in horticulture and landscape engineering while offering National Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND), and certification programs.
However, financial documents obtained from the civic responsibility platform Govspend reveal that on March 31, 2026, the institution executed 34 transactions in rapid succession, channeling public funds primarily into projects related to general infrastructure and regional development instead of agricultural training and research.
This unusual spending pattern hints at a focus on local road construction, electrification, ICT centers, and related services—fields typically managed by specialized agencies. The rapidity and extent of these payments raise concerns about the integrity of the procurement process, alignment with budgetary constraints, and adherence to institutional mandates.
Prominent contractors have emerged as the primary beneficiaries of these funds, with Bridge-Hill Nigeria Limited topping the list at approximately ₦275.2 million. Following closely are Kaita Integrated Services Limited and Rubis Modernize Ltd, each receiving ₦246.1 million. Additionally, Galaxy Inter Links Nig Ltd received around ₦140.9 million, and Obet-Obet Nigeria Limited along with Smile Project International Resources Limited were paid approximately ₦134.2 million each.
A further distribution of funds saw Bal & Buk Business Resources Ltd receiving ₦75.1 million, while Global Services Limited and Olupeto Global Integrated Ventures Ltd were awarded ₦67.1 million each on June 6. Several companies engaged in monitoring and evaluation services, such as Vintage Monitoring and Evaluation Services Ltd and Assad Associates Nig Ltd, received payments in the ₦53 million range.
