Sectoral Debate: Agric Minister, Others outline efforts on Food Security

The House of Representatives has held a Sectoral Debate on Agriculture and Food Security, spotlighting crucial issues in the sector and legislative actions aimed at addressing them.

The debate, which is the third in its Policy Brief Series set out in both the Legislative Agenda of the Peoples’ House, as well as its Standing Orders, was held on Tuesday at the Green Chamber.

Building on the success of previous editions, the debate featured the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security; Senator Abubakar Kyari, Managing Director; Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL Plc.); Abbas Umar Masanawa, Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF); Muhammed Abu Ibrahim and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS); Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

In making his presentation before lawmakers, the Agriculture Minister stated that the cultivation of soya and grains has been boosted across the country to meet the existing demand and deficiencies.

Explaining that his Ministry has drawn out short, medium and long term solutions towards mitigating hardship being suffered by Nigerians, he also stated that the Ministry has received approval from President Bola Tinubu to distribute grains from the national storage as a short term solution.

Senator Kyari stressed that his Ministry has launched dry season farming as part of its short term solutions towards making farming an all-year activity. The Minister also stated that the Ministry is working with the Nigeria Customs Service to check market leakages. An answer he gave in response to a question about the preference by farmers to export food items to other countries for better value of payments.

On his part, Abbas Masanawa, noted that NIRSAL has so far, raised enormous funds through its synergy with private sector funds for investment in agricultural development. He further assured that NIRSAL is fully committed to ensuring a more thriving partnership with key stakeholders for further agricultural development.

The NADF Managing Director commended the partnership with the National Assembly as productive for the development of the agricultural sector to the benefit of Nigerians. This is as he explained that the Fund has also spread to ensure no part of the country is left behind in fund mobilisation and partnership.

The Comptroller-General of Customs told lawmakers that levies have been either removed or reduced for appliances and machinery imported into Nigeria for agricultural development. 

CG Adeniyi added that the Nigeria Customs have also adopted policies to ensure locally manufactured foods are not illegally exported to ensure local food sufficiency for Nigerians. On complaints that the Service should have done a simultaneous distribution of food across the country, he noted that there was the need to carry out the disbursement in Lagos first; in order to learn from the process. 

Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu who presided over plenary, in his opening remarks, noted that there was great need for stakeholders to collectively address demand, supply, and food price inflation to harness the full potential of the agricultural sector for national growth and development.

The session featured questions and answers from various Members of the House, leading to insights and rich strategies that will enhance agricultural productivity, ensure food security, and promote sustainable development in the country.

Nigeria’s House of Representatives recognises the agricultural sector as a veritable tool in advancing Nigeria’s economy by creating wealth and reducing poverty in line with Agenda 4: Economic Growth And Development of its Legislative Agenda.

Recall that the House had previously held Sectoral Debates focused on Security and the Economy, in November 2023 and February 2024 respectively.