The House of Representatives has initiated an inquiry into the alleged delay in releasing N174.26 billion earmarked for agricultural intervention programmes, calling on relevant government agencies and development partners to provide full cooperation.
Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, Bello Ka’oje, disclosed this in a statement, confirming that the probe follows a motion adopted by the House in January 2026.
The resolution mandates the committee to examine agricultural projects funded by international partners, particularly the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective use of the funds.
According to Ka’oje, the investigation will focus on the circumstances surrounding the alleged non-release of the N174.26 billion intervention funds, as well as the continued high cost of fertiliser, which lawmakers say is worsening farmers’ struggles and threatening national food production.
He noted that concerns about food security intensified after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency on food security in July 2023 — a move that led to the introduction of several donor-supported agricultural initiatives.
Providing further clarification, the lawmaker revealed that Nigeria secured a $134 million facility from the AfDB in February 2023 to support the National Agricultural Growth Scheme–Agro Pocket Project. While $99.67 million was reportedly credited to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, about N55.30 billion is said to be pending disbursement to agro-dealers supplying inputs to hundreds of thousands of wheat and rice farmers under the 2024/2025 dry season programme.
He also stated that Nigeria obtained a 15 billion Japanese Yen Food Security Emergency Support Loan from JICA in April 2024. Although the first tranche of 12 billion Yen — equivalent to about N118.96 billion — was reportedly disbursed in March 2025, the funds have allegedly not yet reached the relevant implementing agencies.
The JICA facility is designed to provide subsidised farm inputs to approximately 550,000 smallholder farmers cultivating rice, maize, soybeans, and cassava during the 2025 wet season and the 2025/2026 dry season cycles.
Ka’oje warned that delays in releasing the time-sensitive funds have already disrupted planting schedules, potentially reducing output for the 2025 harvest and threatening productivity in the upcoming farming season.
He further cautioned that an additional $200 million AfDB funding arrangement under a Result-Based Financing framework could be jeopardised if earlier interventions remain unimplemented.
The committee, he said, is determined to identify any bottlenecks responsible for the delay and ensure that all agricultural support funds are properly deployed to strengthen food security and stabilise the sector.