Reps probe non-release of N174.26bn agric intervention funds

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the non-release of N174.26 billion in agriculture intervention funds secured from international development partners, amid concerns that the delay has worsened food insecurity and threatened upcoming farming seasons.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion on a Matter of Urgent Public Importance sponsored by Hon. Bello A. Ka’oje at plenary.

He recalled that President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency on food security in July 2023, a move that triggered several donor-supported interventions aimed at boosting agricultural production nationwide.

Ka’oje further informed the House that Nigeria negotiated a $134 million loan with the African Development Bank (AfDB) in February 2023 to support the National Agricultural Growth Scheme–Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) Project, with the first tranche of $99.67 million already disbursed to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

He said while the Federal Ministry of Finance reportedly released portions of the AfDB funds to the implementing agencies, a balance of N55.30 billion remains outstanding, despite being meant to pay agro-dealers supplying inputs to 280,000 wheat farmers and support 150,000 rice farmers under the 2024/2025 dry season programme.

The lawmaker told the House that Nigeria secured a Food Security Emergency Support Loan of up to 15 billion Japanese Yen from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in April 2024.

“A first tranche of 12 billion Yen, equivalent to N118.96 billion, was disbursed in March 2025 but has yet to be released to the implementing agencies”, he said.

According to the motion, the JICA funds were intended to support 550,000 smallholder farmers with subsidised inputs for rice, maize, soya beans and cassava during the 2025 wet season and the 2025/2026 dry season farming.

He expressed concern that the funds were time-bound and that delays in their release meant farmers missed critical planting seasons, leading to reduced agricultural output in 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 be jeopardised due to the failure to implement earlier interventions.

Consequently, the House mandated the Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to investigate the circumstances surrounding the non-release of the N174.26 billion intervention funds and report back within two weeks.

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