The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Production Services and Rural Development, Senator Saliu Mustapha, has reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to driving Nigeria’s agricultural transformation through robust legislative action aimed at ensuring food security, job creation, and national self-sufficiency.
Speaking on Monday during a public hearing on three key agricultural bills, Senator Mustapha described the deliberations as “a defining moment in Nigeria’s journey toward sustainable food production and economic diversification.”
The bills under consideration include the Cassava Flour (Mandatory Inclusion into Flour Production) Bill, the National Food Reserve Agency (Establishment) Bill, and the Rice Development Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill.
Senator Mustapha, who sponsored two of the bills—the Cassava Inclusion Bill and the National Food Reserve Agency Bill—said the proposed legislations are designed to reduce Nigeria’s heavy reliance on food imports while empowering local farmers and processors.
According to him, the Cassava Flour Inclusion Bill seeks to mandate all flour producers in Nigeria to include 20 percent high-quality cassava flour in wheat production. This measure, he noted, would help cut the country’s $5 billion annual wheat import bill, create sustainable markets for cassava farmers, encourage agro-processing, and offer tax incentives for producers who comply with the blend policy.
On the National Food Reserve Agency Bill, the lawmaker explained that the establishment of the agency would enhance national food security, stabilize prices, and ensure the availability of essential food items during crises.
“The present hardship arising from soaring food prices can be mitigated through a functional food reserve system that maintains buffer stocks for price stabilization and food availability,” he stated.
The third bill, the Rice Development Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, sponsored by Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero, was also described by Senator Mustapha as a strategic step toward achieving rice self-sufficiency. He added that the council would promote research, innovation, and capacity building across the rice value chain, thereby reducing Nigeria’s $2 billion annual rice import expenditure.
Senator Mustapha further urged stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to the legislative process, describing the hearing as an opportunity for “the voice of Nigeria to echo through the halls of the National Assembly.”
“As we deliberate, let our debates be vigorous but respectful, and our decisions guided by patriotism. Together, we can build a Nigeria where agriculture is not a relic of the past, but the engine of our tomorrow,” he concluded.
