The House of Representatives has decided to investigate the alleged mismanagement and misapplication of $232 million allocated for the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) World Bank Program.
This resolution emerged after lawmakers adopted a motion during Thursday’s plenary session, led by Hon. Chike Okafor.
In presenting the motion, Okafor explained that ANRiN is a performance-based project funded by the World Bank.
The program aims to tackle Nigeria’s nutritional challenges by utilizing loans to improve nutrition for vulnerable communities.
It specifically targets pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls, and children under five in various states across Nigeria.
Okafor noted that the federal government initiated the ANRiN Program in 2018 to protect children from malnutrition’s devastating effects.
The program aimed to enhance nutritional interventions and outcomes before the deadline of December 2024. However, concerns have arisen regarding the program’s effectiveness and transparency.
He expressed concern that the program has yielded minimal results, describing it as “water, water everywhere but no water to drink.”
Despite its promising goals, the program has failed to produce significant improvements, raising questions about the $232 million investment.
Okafor highlighted troubling indicators from the recently released Nigeria Demographic Health Survey 2023/2024, which show worsening nutrition statistics.
The survey revealed an increase in stunting and malnutrition among children under five, prompting further scrutiny of the funds spent on nutritional interventions.
Okafor emphasized the need for an investigation to assess the alleged mismanagement of funds within the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) Program.
The House mandated the Committees on Nutrition, Food Security, Finance, Aids, Loan, and Debt Management to conduct a thorough investigation.
They will evaluate the program’s impact, identify responsible parties, and propose accountability measures for future interventions.
The committees will invite relevant stakeholders to submit necessary documents and insights, ensuring a comprehensive report within four weeks.
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