By Faridat Salifu
The House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the alleged non-release of N174.26 billion in agricultural intervention funds, urging Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and development partners to cooperate fully.
The probe was initiated following a motion by Hon. Bello Ka’oje, Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, who emphasised the need for transparency and accountability in donor-funded agricultural projects.
“The delay in releasing funds secured from international development partners has heightened concerns over food insecurity,” Ka’oje said, referencing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s July 2023 declaration of a food security emergency.
The investigation will cover AfDB- and JICA-supported projects, including a $134 million loan under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme–Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) Project. While $99.67 million has been disbursed to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, N55.30 billion meant for agro-dealers supplying 280,000 wheat farmers and 150,000 rice farmers remains outstanding.
Ka’oje also disclosed delays in 15 billion Japanese Yen (N148 billion) from Japan International Cooperation Agency, secured as a Food Security Emergency Support Loan in April 2024. The first tranche of 12 billion Yen (N118.96 billion) disbursed in March 2025 has yet to reach implementing agencies, leaving 550,000 smallholder farmers without subsidised inputs for rice, maize, soya beans, and cassava.
The delays have reportedly caused farmers to miss critical planting seasons, reducing potential output for the 2025 harvest and threatening the 2026 farming season. Ka’oje warned that additional AfDB funding of approximately $200 million under a Result-Based Financing arrangement could also be jeopardised if earlier interventions remain unimplemented.
“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,” Ka’oje said.
The House committee has urged all stakeholders to provide necessary documents and support to remove bottlenecks and ensure timely delivery of agricultural inputs to farmers across Nigeria.