The House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the alleged non-release of N174.26 billion in agricultural intervention funds, calling on relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and development partners to fully cooperate with the probe.

Chairman of the Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, Hon. Bello Ka’oje, in a statement on Sunday, urged all stakeholders to provide necessary documents and support to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation.

The investigation follows a motion sponsored by Hon. Ka’oje in late January, which directed the House to examine development partner-funded agricultural projects, particularly those supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to ensure accountability and judicious use of resources.

According to Hon. Ka’oje, the Committee’s mandate includes investigating the circumstances surrounding the non-release of the N174.26 billion intervention funds and examining the persistently high cost of fertiliser, which continues to affect farmers and food production nationwide.

He said: “The delay in releasing funds secured from international development partners has heightened concerns over food insecurity,” he said, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had declared a state of emergency on food security in July 2023. A move that triggered several donor-backed agricultural interventions.”

Ka’oje disclosed that Nigeria negotiated a $134 million loan with the AfDB in February 2023 to support the National Agricultural Growth Scheme–Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) Project.

While $99.67 million has been disbursed to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), the lawmaker said a balance of N55.30 billion remains outstanding for 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 JICA 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 has yet to reach the implementing agencies.

He said the facility is meant to support 550,000 smallholder farmers with subsidised inputs for rice, maize, soya beans, and cassava production during the 2025 wet season and 2025/2026 dry season.

Ka’oje expressed concern that the delay has caused farmers to miss planting seasons, reducing output for the 2025 harvest and posing risks to the 2026 farming season.

He 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 urged all stakeholders and relevant government agencies to cooperate fully with the National Assembly to remove bottlenecks hindering progress. (The Guardian)

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