Reps to Investigate Alleged Mismanagement of N350bn ANRiN Project Funded by World Bank

The House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the alleged mismanagement of ₦350 billion allocated for the implementation of the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project, funded by the World Bank.

The resolution was triggered by a motion presented by Rep. Chike Okafor (APC-Imo) during the House plenary session on Thursday. Rep. Okafor expressed concerns about the alleged mismanagement and improper application of the $232 million loan dedicated to ANRiN.

According to him, while the programme was designed with good intentions, its outcomes appear ineffective, as recent nutrition indicators suggest little improvement.

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“The programme seems to embody the adage ‘water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink.’ It was designed to tackle malnutrition, but it appears to have yielded miraculous yet obviously ineffective outcomes,” Okafor remarked.

He further pointed to data from the 2023/2024 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey, which revealed worsening nutrition-specific outcomes, including an increase in under-five stunting and malnutrition rates.

Overview of the ANRiN Programme

The Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project is a World Bank-funded, performance-based initiative launched in 2018. It aims to improve nutrition for vulnerable groups such as pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls, and children under five in 12 Nigerian states. The project operates with a $232 million loan and is scheduled for completion by December 2024.

Regional Impact and Concerns

ANRiN covers 12 states across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, and Plateau. Despite the significant financial investment, the programme’s effectiveness is under scrutiny, prompting lawmakers to call for accountability.

Okafor emphasized the necessity of a thorough evaluation to uncover the extent of the alleged fund mismanagement and to hold accountable those responsible.

“An investigation will ascertain the extent of the alleged mismanagement of ANRiN funds, evaluate its actual impact, identify those responsible, and propose measures for future accountability in subsequent interventions of $50 million or more,” he stated.

Next Steps

House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas has directed the Committees on Nutrition and Food Security, Finance, Aids, Loans, and Debt Management to conduct a detailed investigation and report their findings within four weeks.

The investigation seeks to assess the execution of the ANRiN project and ensure the funds were utilized effectively to achieve its goals.