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By Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has started investigating the ₦1.12 trillion disbursed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP). The probe also covers other federal government agricultural initiatives from 2017 to 2024.
Committee Chairman Chike Okafor spoke at the first investigative hearing in Abuja. He expressed worry that despite massive funding for agriculture, Nigeria still faces food insecurity.
“The unfortunate reality today is that despite huge sums of money budgeted and disbursed over the years for agricultural programmes, Nigeria continues to grapple with food scarcity, rising food prices, and malnutrition,” he said.
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Okafor argued that proper use of these funds could have prevented today’s crisis. “If these funds had been judiciously spent, we would not be facing the current crisis where millions of Nigerians struggle to afford basic meals,” he added. Still, he stressed that the panel’s goal is not to target anyone.
“Our purpose is not to target individuals or institutions but to uncover the truth, identify systemic failures, and ensure that public funds allocated for agricultural development are utilised transparently and effectively,” he explained.
The lawmaker tied the probe to broader aims. “The creation of the Committee on Nutrition and Food Security is the legislative response to join forces with the executive arm of government and other stakeholders to tackle these issues and make Nigeria a food-secure and nourished populace,” he said. The parliament, he noted, wants to work with the government to address food security challenges.
