The House Committee has urged all relevant MDAs and stakeholders to submit required documents and offer full cooperation as it begins an investigation into the alleged non-release of N174.26 billion in agricultural intervention funds
The House of Representatives has announced plans to commence an investigation into the alleged non-release of N174.26 billion in agricultural intervention funds, with the Committee on Agricultural Production and Services calling on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as development partners, to fully cooperate with the process.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Committee Chairman, Rep. Bello Ka’oje, urged all relevant government bodies and stakeholders to make available necessary documents and provide support to ensure a transparent and comprehensive probe.
The planned investigation follows a resolution of the House of Representatives in late January, after the adoption of a motion sponsored by Ka’oje, mandating the committee to examine development partner–funded agricultural projects.
The focus is particularly on interventions supported by the African Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, with a view to ensuring accountability and value for money.
According to the lawmaker, the committee is specifically tasked with probing the circumstances surrounding the non-release of the N174.26 billion intervention funds, as well as reviewing the persistently high cost of fertiliser, which he said continues to undermine farmers’ productivity and national food output.
Ka’oje noted that delays in releasing funds secured from international development partners have deepened concerns over food insecurity, particularly after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency on food security in July 2023, a move that led to several donor-backed agricultural initiatives.
He 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, out of which $99.67 million has been paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
However, about N55.30 billion remains outstanding and yet to be disbursed to agro-dealers supplying inputs to 280,000 wheat farmers and supporting 150,000 rice farmers under the 2024/2025 dry season programme.
The committee chairman further revealed that a 15 billion Japanese Yen Food Security Emergency Support Loan was secured from JICA in April 2024. Although the first tranche of 12 billion Yen, valued at N118.96 billion, was disbursed in March 2025, it has not been released to the implementing agencies.
He explained that the JICA facility 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 cycles.
Ka’oje expressed concern that the time-bound nature of the funds means delays have already forced many farmers to miss planting windows, contributing to reduced output in the 2025 harvest and posing serious risks to the 2026 farming season.
He also warned that about $200 million in additional AfDB funding under a result-based financing arrangement could be at risk if earlier interventions are not implemented.
“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 said.
The committee therefore urged all stakeholders and government agencies responsible for fund release and implementation to work closely with the National Assembly to remove all bottlenecks hindering progress.
