The House of Representatives is set to begin an investigation into the alleged non-release of N174.26 billion in agricultural intervention funds, as the Committee on Agricultural Production and Services urges Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as development partners to fully cooperate with the probe.
The Chairman of the Committee, Bello Ka’oje, in a statement on Sunday, called on all relevant government agencies and stakeholders to provide necessary documents and support to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation.
It would be recalled that the House, in late January, following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Ka’oje, resolved to investigate development partner-funded agricultural projects, particularly those supported by the African Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, to ensure accountability and judicious use of resources.
According to the lawmaker, the Committee was specifically mandated to investigate the circumstances surrounding the non-release of the N174.26 billion intervention funds, as well as examine the persistent high cost of fertilizer, which continues to negatively impact farmers and food production nationwide.
He noted that the delay in releasing funds secured from international development partners has heightened concerns over food insecurity, especially following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency on food security in July 2023, a move that triggered several donor-backed agricultural interventions.
Providing further details, Ka’oje disclosed that Nigeria negotiated a $134 million loan with the African Development Bank in February 2023 to support the National Agricultural Growth Scheme–Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) Project, out of which $99.67 million has been disbursed to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).
However, a balance of N55.30 billion remains outstanding for disbursement to agro-dealers supplying inputs to 280,000 wheat farmers and supporting 150,000 rice farmers under the 2024/2025 dry season programme.
He also revealed that 15 billion Japanese Yen was secured from the Japan International Cooperation Agency in April 2024 as a Food Security Emergency Support Loan. While the first tranche of 12 billion Yen (N118.96 billion) was disbursed in March 2025, it is yet to be released to the implementing agencies.
The JICA facility, he explained, was designed to support 550,000 smallholder farmers with subsidised inputs for rice, maize, soya beans and cassava production during the 2025 wet season and the 2025/2026 dry season farming cycles.
Ka’oje expressed serious concern that the funds are time-bound and that delayed release has already caused farmers to miss planting seasons, leading to reduced output in the 2025 harvest and posing significant risks to the 2026 farming season.
He further warned that about $200 million in additional AfDB funding under a Result-Based Financing arrangement could also be jeopardised due to non-implementation of earlier interventions.
“The seriousness of these issues calls for firm commitment to ensure the implementation of all interventions in order to rescue the nation’s agricultural sector and guarantee food security,” he stated.
The Committee therefore urged all stakeholders and relevant government agencies responsible for fund release and implementation of the interventions to cooperate fully with the National Assembly in clearing all bottlenecks hindering progress.