ABUJA: The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently implement the Export (Prohibition) Act, 2004, as part of efforts to curb food smuggling and address the growing food insecurity in Nigeria.
This move is aimed at mitigating the effects of food shortages, rising food inflation, and the hardship facing millions of Nigerians.
The House also urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to introduce more incentives to encourage farmers and enhance agricultural production.
The Committees on Agricultural Production and Services, Legislative Compliance, Customs, Commerce, and Industry have been mandated to ensure compliance with these resolutions and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled “Need to Curb Export Prohibition Act to Curb Insecurity in Nigeria,” brought by Hon. Muktar Shagaya.
Presenting the motion, Shagaya noted that Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) emphasizes the security and welfare of the people as the primary responsibility of government.
Advertisement
He noted with concern that Nigeria is currently grappling with high levels of food insecurity, with millions of citizens lacking access to sufficient and nutritious food.
Citing reports from the World Bank and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Shagaya revealed that over 31.8 million Nigerians, representing approximately 16% of the population, are facing severe food insecurity, with women and children suffering from malnutrition.
He expressed alarm over the significant role food smuggling and exportation play in exacerbating food insecurity.
According to him, large quantities of food products are being illegally exported, undermining local agricultural output and threatening the livelihoods of Nigerian farmers.
“The Export (Prohibition) Act, 2004 was enacted at a time when many Nigerians were struggling to access basic foodstuffs like rice, corn, yam, garri, cassava, and beans, which were being smuggled to foreign markets,” Shagaya stated.
He added that the failure to enforce this legislation has contributed to severe food shortages, escalating food prices, and a loss of revenue for both farmers and the government.
He concluded by emphasizing the urgency of enforcing the Export (Prohibition) Act, 2004, to halt food smuggling, ensure the availability of food, and reduce the cost of living for Nigerians.
