The House of Representatives has launched a sweeping investigation into the ₦1.06 trillion Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) program, following mounting public outcry over its alleged failure to deliver tangible benefits to millions of intended beneficiaries.
Hon. Abubakar Kusada (APC–Katsina), Chairman of the House Committee on NG-CARES, revealed that despite the federal government fully disbursing the funds and setting clear operational guidelines, feedback from across the country indicates that large segments of the vulnerable population have seen little to no impact. The program, jointly funded by a $696 million facility and state-level contributions, was rolled out across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, promising social transfers, agricultural support, and aid for small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
However, lawmakers say the reality on the ground tells a different story. Hon. Kusada, citing Sections 88 and 89 of the Nigerian Constitution, vowed that the probe will uncover whether the funds were misappropriated, embezzled, or diverted. The investigation will also examine allegations of inflated contracts, questionable procurement practices, and the credibility of independent verification processes.
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The committee is prepared to publicly “name and shame” any state where disbursement claims cannot be substantiated, and will push for the recovery of any funds found to have been misused. Projects under scrutiny include wet markets, storage facilities, and labor-intensive infrastructure, alongside direct social and economic stimulus packages that many Nigerians say never reached them.
This probe comes at a time when citizens are grappling with deepening economic hardship fueled by subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms. Frustration is growing over what many see as the government’s repeated failure to translate massive public spending into meaningful relief for ordinary Nigerians.
According to Hon. Kusada, the investigation’s ultimate goal is simple but urgent, to ensure that every naira spent under the NG-CARES initiative delivers real, measurable benefits to the people it was designed to help.
