By Abdullahi Lukman
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has raised concerns over persistent food insecurity in Nigeria despite the trillions of naira spent on agricultural subsidies and intervention programmes over the past decade.
Abbas made this known on Tuesday in Abuja through the Deputy Chief Whip, Ibrahim Isiaka, at an investigative hearing on agricultural subsidies, intervention funds, aid and grant programmes implemented between 2015 and 2025.
The hearing, conducted by an ad hoc committee of the House, is examining the utilisation and impact of public funds allocated to boost agricultural productivity, enhance food security, create jobs and reduce dependence on food imports.
According to the Speaker, successive administrations, working through the Federal Government, the Central Bank of Nigeria and development partners, committed vast financial resources to agriculture within the period, but the expected outcomes have largely failed to materialise.
He noted that food prices continue to rise, food insecurity remains widespread, rural poverty persists and the country is still heavily reliant on food imports, describing the gap between massive spending and weak results as alarming.
Abbas stressed that the investigation is not targeted at any individual or institution, nor motivated by politics, but is a constitutional exercise aimed at assessing the processes, outcomes and overall effectiveness of the intervention programmes.
He warned ministries, departments and agencies against disregarding the committee’s invitations, citing Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, which empower the House to summon, sanction or issue arrest warrants against defaulters.
Earlier, the committee chairman, Jamo Aminu, listed several programmes under review, including the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme, Agri-Business and Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme, Mechanisation Acquisition Scheme, National Food Security Programme and other related initiatives.
Aminu said the probe was necessary as Nigerians continue to face high food prices, unemployment and economic hardship, adding that public funds invested in agricultural interventions must be properly accounted for and justified.