Horticultural Research Institute splashes N740m on ‘constituency projects’ in one day

An investigation by FIJ found that the National Horticultural Research Institute in Ibadan disbursed N740.6 million in a single day to nine companies for constituency-style projects — including solar street lights, grain distribution and tricycles — that have nothing to do with its actual research mandate.

A research institute meant to study fruits and vegetables just spent a small fortune on solar lights, grain and tricycles — and none of it had anything to do with horticulture. According to FIJ, the National Horticultural Research Institute, NIHORT, in Ibadan, paid out at least N740.6 million in just one day — December 14, 2025 — to nine different companies for projects far outside its scientific mandate.

FIJ’s review of payment records found 11 separate payments funding solar-powered street lighting on rural farm roads, grain handouts to vulnerable communities, and haulage tricycles — the classic markers of a constituency project, not agricultural research. Solar lighting alone swallowed N377.17 million, more than half the total spend, while grain distribution took N280.4 million and tricycles accounted for N83 million.

Diamond Leeds Limited walked away with the single biggest payment — N244 million for solar lights in Akwa Ibom’s Essien Udim LGA. Ken Vic Moore Biz Ventures collected N161.1 million across two contracts, spanning solar lighting in Etim Ekpo and bean supplies in Kwara. Gold Reef Construction picked up N93.1 million for grain and tricycle contracts in Adamawa and Delta, while Covestro Limited and Apache Engineering each received N65.4 million for grain supplies in Kaduna communities.

NIHORT’s actual mandate, by law, is research into the genetic improvement, production and marketing of tropical fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants — nowhere near street lighting or tricycle procurement.