The House of Representatives has intensified its investigation into the alleged massive diversion and mismanagement of billions of naira meant for critical agricultural intervention programs across Nigeria.
Massive Funds Under Scrutiny
The House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, during its third public hearing in Abuja on Tuesday, revealed it is examining how several key agencies outside the Federal Ministry of Agriculture handled funds intended to boost food production and combat hunger.
Committee Chairman Deacon Chike Okafor disclosed that the interventions under scrutiny include the Central Bank of Nigeria's Anchor Borrowers Programme, which reportedly disbursed ₦1.12 trillion to 4.67 million farmers.
Other programs being investigated include:
- NIRSAL's ₦255.61 billion support for 915 agribusiness projects
- Bank of Industry's ₦59.4 billion financing for agro-processors
- Federal recovery funds for ginger blight control
Serious Allegations and Non-Compliance
Okafor stated that the committee is looking into alarming allegations ranging from diversion of funds to ghost beneficiaries, inflated costs, and poor repayment records that demand urgent legislative scrutiny.
"Food security is non-negotiable," Okafor declared emphatically. "Yet corruption, inefficiencies and mismanagement in these programmes are undermining our national goal. Hunger must not define Nigeria."
While some agencies have complied with the committee's summons and submitted verifiable documents, Okafor accused others of repeatedly ignoring invitations. He specifically mentioned the Bank of Agriculture, the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria and the National Agricultural Land Development Authority as among those giving "flimsy excuses" for their absence.
No Sacred Cows Warning
"This is totally unacceptable," the committee chairman warned. "No sacred cows, no cover-ups, no excuses. Every kobo must be accounted for."
The two-day hearing is receiving presentations from several key institutions including the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), participating financial institutions in the Anchor Borrowers Programme, the Agricultural Research Council, the National Agricultural Seeds Council and NALDA.
Wednesday's session will focus specifically on the Bank of Agriculture, NAIC, NIRSAL Plc and NIRSAL Microfinance Bank.
Okafor outlined the committee's fundamental questions: "We seek answers—Where is the money? Who benefited? Why are claims unpaid? And how do we fix this? This Committee is not a court of law, but it is a platform for accountability."
Parallel Probe Into Abandoned Government Properties
In a related development, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, on Tuesday inaugurated an ad-hoc committee to probe the widespread abandonment of Federal Government properties nationwide.
Abbas warned that "the era of allowing national assets to decay is over" as he launched the committee headed by Hon. Daniel Amos.
The committee is mandated to identify all federal landed assets that are idle, determine why they were abandoned, and recommend clear actions for recovery, rehabilitation, or disposal.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, Abbas described abandoned public facilities as "glaring symbols of waste and weak governance" and vowed that the 10th House would not look away.
"These facilities represent public wealth. They must not rot away," Abbas asserted. "Every federal asset must be identified, protected and put to productive use. Nigerians expect nothing less."
The Speaker assured citizens that both investigations represent the House's commitment to ensuring public funds and assets are properly utilized for national development.
