The House of Representatives has kicked off a high-stakes investigation into the alleged non-release of N174.26 billion earmarked for agricultural interventions, raising fresh alarms over Nigeria’s food security.
Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, Hon. Bello Ka’oje, urged all ministries, development partners, and agencies involved to provide documents and full cooperation to ensure a transparent inquiry.
The probe follows a motion sponsored by Ka’oje in January, directing lawmakers to scrutinise projects funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The aim: ensure donor-backed agricultural interventions are fully implemented and resources properly managed.
Ka’oje revealed that delays in disbursing funds have worsened fertilizer scarcity, hit farmers’ planting schedules, and threatened nationwide food production.
“The delay in releasing funds secured from international partners has heightened concerns over food insecurity,” he said, noting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2023 declaration of a food security emergency.
Under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme–Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP), Nigeria secured a $134 million AfDB loan in February 2023.
While $99.67 million has reached the Consolidated Revenue Fund, N55.3 billion meant for agro-dealers supporting 430,000 wheat and rice farmers remains outstanding.
Similarly, a 15 billion Yen JICA loan intended to provide subsidised inputs for 550,000 smallholder farmers has stalled, with only the first tranche of 12 billion Yen (N118.96 billion) disbursed in March 2025 but yet to reach implementing agencies.
Ka’oje warned that missed planting seasons could reduce output for the 2025 harvest and jeopardise the 2026 farming season.
“The seriousness of these delays threatens an additional $200 million in AfDB Result-Based Financing,” Ka’oje said, urging all stakeholders to remove bottlenecks and ensure interventions reach farmers.
The Committee has called on relevant agencies and development partners to cooperate fully, stressing that accountability and timely implementation are crucial to rescuing Nigeria’s agricultural sector and safeguarding food security.
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