Structural bottlenecks, delayed delivery of farm inputs, financial constraints and the infiltration of beneficiary lists by ineligible persons significantly weakened the impact of the $134m National Agricultural Growth Scheme–Agro Pocket (NAGS-AP) Wheat Intervention Programme funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB), according to a new assessment report.
The report, commissioned by ActionAid Nigeria and conducted by TSD Consult, found that although the intervention succeeded in expanding wheat cultivation and improving access to agricultural inputs during the 2023 to 2025 dry-season farming cycles, operational inefficiencies and governance challenges limited its overall effectiveness and prevented many smallholder farmers from fully benefiting from the programme.
Presenting the findings, Team Lead of TSD Consult, Tunde Salman, said delays in federal approvals and logistical challenges resulted in the late distribution of fertilisers, seeds and other critical inputs across participating states.
According to him, the delays disrupted farming schedules and negatively affected wheat production.
“Late land preparation has resulted in portions of the wheat crop being excluded from the production cycle entirely, thereby suppressing the programme’s potential output,” Salman said.
The assessment further uncovered significant irregularities in the beneficiary selection process, revealing that ghost farmers and political appointees were included in beneficiary lists in some locations, reducing opportunities for genuine smallholder farmers who were the intended targets of the intervention.
The report also highlighted the challenges posed by the programme’s 50 per cent counterpart funding requirement. Many farmers reportedly struggled to raise their contributions and, as a result, were compelled to sell their input allocations to agro-dealers instead of using them for cultivation.
Despite the challenges, the study noted that the intervention recorded some positive outcomes.
Farmers reported improved yields from imported heat-tolerant wheat varieties introduced under the programme, with average production increasing from about 13 bags per hectare to approximately 20 bags per hectare.
However, the report warned that continued dependence on imported seed varieties exposes the absence of a robust domestic wheat seed multiplication system, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of the initiative.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Suwaiba Muhammad-Dankabo, said the programme was established to support Nigeria’s efforts to reduce its heavy reliance on imported wheat, which currently accounts for about 90 per cent of national wheat consumption.
She explained that the independent assessment was undertaken to determine whether the intervention was reaching its primary targets, including smallholder farmers, women, youths and persons living with disabilities.
According to her, the findings underscore the need for stronger institutional frameworks and more inclusive implementation strategies to achieve the programme’s objectives.
“Sustainable expansion of wheat production in Nigeria will require stronger institutions, improved seed systems, increased investment in irrigation infrastructure and better integration of agricultural extension services,” she said.
ActionAid Nigeria urged the Federal Government to develop a comprehensive national wheat seed multiplication strategy aimed at strengthening local seed production and reducing dependence on imported varieties.
The organisation also recommended the establishment of a zonal wheat suitability targeting framework to ensure interventions are directed toward areas with the greatest production potential.
In addition, it called for the introduction of gender-sensitive agricultural financing mechanisms to improve access to funding for women farmers and other vulnerable groups.
Presenting the report’s policy recommendations, Muhammad-Dankabo urged the management of the NAGS-AP programme to enforce strict timelines for seed and input delivery before the end of October each year to ensure farmers receive critical inputs ahead of planting periods.
She also advocated improved access to redemption centres and the publication of verified beneficiary lists at ward level to enhance transparency and public accountability.
Other recommendations include strengthening ownership of the programme by federal and state governments, deploying real-time public dashboards for project monitoring, improving information and communication technology infrastructure during input redemption exercises and investigating allegations of input diversion, adulterated agrochemicals, substandard fertilisers and uncertified seeds.
The report further called for sanctions against agro-dealers found guilty of corrupt practices and urged stakeholders to intensify awareness campaigns through farmer associations, community leaders, religious organisations and social media platforms.
For state governments, ActionAid recommended increased funding and support for Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) extension services, recruitment of additional extension personnel, particularly women, and the strengthening of state ADP offices to improve farmer outreach and technical support.
The organisation also encouraged farmers and farmer-based organisations to maximise the utilisation of inputs received under the programme and improve digital literacy to enhance participation in government-backed agricultural initiatives.
Civil society organisations were urged to leverage the Freedom of Information Act to demand greater transparency and sustain independent monitoring of publicly funded agricultural programmes.
ActionAid further called on the African Development Bank and other development finance institutions to strengthen transparency requirements in funded projects, institutionalise third-party monitoring by civil society organisations and support anti-corruption measures to improve programme outcomes.
Muhammad-Dankabo urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the NAGS-AP Secretariat, the African Development Bank and other stakeholders to act swiftly on the report’s recommendations, stressing that Nigerian wheat farmers deserve transparent, accountable and result-driven interventions capable of boosting productivity, enhancing food security and improving livelihoods across the country.
