The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to urgently enforce the Export Prohibition Act, 2004 as part of efforts to curb food smuggling and address food insecurity in Nigeria.
This call was made following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Muktar Shagaya, titled “Need to Curb Export Prohibition Act to Curb Insecurity in Nigeria.”
During the motion, Shagaya emphasized that Nigeria is currently grappling with severe food insecurity, food inflation, and shortages, leaving millions of citizens without access to sufficient and nutritious food.
He cited reports from the World Bank and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which revealed that over 31.8 million Nigerians, representing about 16% of the population, are suffering from severe food insecurity and malnutrition, especially among women and children.
Shagaya highlighted the role of food smuggling in exacerbating the situation, noting that large quantities of food products are being illicitly exported from the country, undermining local agricultural production and threatening farmers’ livelihoods.
He expressed concern that the failure to implement the Export (Prohibition) Act, which was enacted to prevent the export of staple foods like rice, corn, yam, garri, cassava, and beans, has led to severe food shortages, increased prices, and heightened food insecurity.
“The Export (Prohibition) Act, 2004 was passed when Nigerians struggled to acquire basic food items because they were being transported, sometimes covertly, to foreign markets. Its lack of enforcement has worsened the country’s food crisis and deprived farmers and the federal government of crucial revenue,” Shagaya said.
He called for the immediate implementation of the Act to prevent food exportation, ensure domestic food availability, and reduce the cost of living for Nigerians.
The House also urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to provide more incentives to farmers to boost agricultural production and productivity.
To ensure compliance, the Committees on Agricultural Production and Services, Legislative Compliance, Customs, Commerce, and Industry have been mandated to monitor the implementation of the resolutions and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.