The Senate on Tuesday advanced three critical agricultural bills aimed at enhancing productivity and securing the nation’s food supply. The Senate’s approval followed a presentation of reports by the Agricultural Production, Services and Rural Development Committee Chairman, Sen. Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central).
The first of the trio, the National Food Reserve Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2026 (SB. 139), seeks to institutionalize the management of Nigeria’s strategic grain reserves. By establishing a dedicated agency, the government aims to move away from ad-hoc food interventions toward a more structured system of stockpiling. This agency will be responsible for stabilizing food prices during periods of scarcity and providing a critical buffer against climate-induced crop failures or global supply chain disruptions.
The Senate also advanced the National Cassava Policy Coordination Council Bill, 2026 (SB. 254). Nigeria is currently the world’s largest producer of cassava, yet much of the sector’s industrial potential remains untapped. This bill establishes a central coordinating body to oversee the mandatory inclusion of cassava flour in edible flour production and to drive the industrial use of cassava in bio-ethanol and starch production. The Council is expected to bridge the gap between smallholder farmers and industrial off-takers, turning cassava into a high-value “white gold” for export and domestic use.
Addressing one of Nigeria’s most significant economic drains, the Senate also advanced the National Rice Development Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2026 (SB. 541). With Nigeria spending an estimated $2 billion annually on rice imports to bridge the gap between domestic production (5.1 million tonnes) and consumption (7.4 million tonnes), the Council is tasked with a clear mandate of achieving self-sufficiency.
The Council will coordinate research into flood-resistant and high-yield seeds, regulate production standards, and oversee the modernization of milling technologies. Senator Mustapha noted during the session that this bill is a strategic “prosperity engine” designed to elevate Nigerian rice farmers from subsistence levels to commercial competitiveness.
