•Lawyer demands list of safety net beneficiaries
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) to settle arrears of agro-dealers and input suppliers under the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP), following the release of N30 billion from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The directive, aimed at fast-tracking support for farmers and stabilising the country’s food supply chain, also appoints BOA as custodian of all agricultural financing programme funds.
According to the External Media Relations Lead for BOA, Judith Ekwebelem, in a statement, the move would serve as a turning point for the sector, with the agency tasked to ensure smooth and timely disbursement of funds to critical stakeholders in the food production sector.
The bank, however, pledged to execute the approved payment schedule with urgency, using its robust electronic wallet system to achieve payment to all complying agro-dealers within 24 hours, while also providing weekly progress updates until completion.
While confirming that the N30 billion represents the second tranche released by the AfDB for implementation of the NAGS-AP, BOA disclosed that the funds are targeted at settling outstanding obligations from the 2024 dry and wet season programmes.
Ekwebelem added that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, directed that the process be treated with the “highest priority.”
Managing Director/Chief Executive of BOA, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, said the NAGS-AP Secretariat and BOA formally kicked off the exercise on September 18, 2025, with the handover of beneficiary data.
His words: “This is a truly defining moment for our agricultural sector. This is more than just a fund; it is a bold commitment to ensuring our nation’s food security. By working hand-in-hand with the NAGS-AP team, we are cutting through bureaucratic delays to get payments directly to agro-dealers and suppliers.
“We are unlocking opportunities for farmers to move beyond subsistence farming into sustainable and profitable agribusiness.”
He maintained that BOA had outlined conditions for pre-qualified and registered agro-dealers and suppliers eligible for payment under the scheme, which include “opening a BOA account, a mandatory step for claim processing. Registration is free and can be completed online.”
“Being selected under the NAGS-AP scheme prior to 2025, as no new applications are being accepted. Having received at least one payment under the scheme. Completing account activation to enable rapid processing, with claims settled within one business day once verified,” he added.
Sotinrin urged all beneficiaries to comply without delay, warning that failure to do so could result in processing setbacks.
Meanwhile, a lawyer, Festus Oguns, has given the Federal Government seven days to release details of the 8.1 million households it claimed benefited from the N330 billion Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT).
On September 16, 2025, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, announced that it had disbursed the sum to the captured households across the federation under the National Social Safety Net Programme, to cushion the harsh effects of economic reforms on the country’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens.
Govt had said the palliative project was implemented by the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, headed by Dr. Olufunmi Olotu, with support from the World Bank.
In the Freedom of Information (FoI) request by Oguns to the National Coordinator, National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO), 76, Ali Akilu Crescent, State House, Abuja.
He said Nigerians are deeply concerned about fiscal transparency in the disbursement of at least one tranche of N25,000 to 8.1 million households.
The lawyer claimed that details of the benefitting households were shrouded in secrecy.
