By Faridat Salifu
The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the non-release of the N174.25 billion intended for the National Agriculture Growth Scheme (AgroPocket) from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.
The resolution was made on January 29, 2026.
The funds, comprising N55.295 billion from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and N118.955 billion from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), were earmarked to support 550,000 smallholder farmers with subsidized inputs for rice, maize, soya beans, and cassava under the 2025 wet season and 2025/2026 dry season farming programs.
The decision follows a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Bello Kaoje (APC, Kebbi), who urged the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to carry out a full investigation into the non-release of the intervention funds.
Kaoje highlighted that in February 2023, Nigeria signed a 25-year loan agreement with AfDB for $134 million to fund the AgroPocket project.
The first tranche of $99.665 million was transferred to the federal government after a 0.025% Front-End Fee.
Of this, the Federal Ministry of Finance released N55.986 billion and N40.486 billion to the Ministry of Agriculture’s project account at the Central Bank of Nigeria, leaving N55.295 billion undisbursed.
The funds were intended to provide critical inputs to 280,000 wheat farmers under the first phase of the 2024/2025 dry season and 150,000 rice farmers under the second phase.
Kaoje also noted that Nigeria signed a loan agreement with JICA on April 24, 2024, for a Food Security Emergency Support Loan not exceeding 15 billion Japanese Yen.
On March 25, 2025, 12 billion Yen (about N118.955 billion) was disbursed to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, but the funds were not transferred to the implementing ministry.
The lawmaker lamented that the delays in releasing these funds have left farmers without essential inputs, reducing agricultural output for the 2025 harvest.
He warned that if the funds are not made available, the 2026 farming season could also face significant setbacks, undermining food production and security in the country.
