From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has demanded evidence of the disbursement of the ₦1.12 trillion Anchor Borrowers Programme fund by financial institutions.
The chairman of the committee, Chike Okafor, made the demand at an investigative hearing organised by the panel, which is currently probing alleged mismanagement of federal interventions and programmes in the agricultural sector.
Okafor expressed concern that only nine of the 24 Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs), which disbursed funds for the ABP, have furnished the committee with evidence of their disbursements.
He explained, “We are probing how the Central Bank of Nigeria, through the Anchor Borrowers Programme, disbursed about ₦1.12 trillion to 4.67 million farmers involved in either maize, rice, or wheat farming through 563 anchors.
“The CBN should note, we are aware that you have about 24 participating financial institutions (PFIs) through which you disburse these humongous amounts. I am also aware that you have written to 24 of them, but we have evidence of only nine. So please note. And also, some of those PFIs have tried to make contact.”
The lawmaker added that the panel is also “probing how NIRSAL disbursed N215,066,982,074.50 so far to facilitate agriculture and agribusinesses. And also the Bank of Industry, how you disbursed ₦3 billion to 22,120 smallholder farmers through the agriculture value chain financing programme.
“One of the key oversight mandates of the Committee on Nutrition and Food Security is to ensure proper implementation of intervention programmes by relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and agencies of government related to food security and nutrition.”