The Senate has taken a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s food security architecture, advancing a bill seeking to establish a National Food Reserve Agency to coordinate the storage and distribution of strategic food supplies.
The development followed the presentation of the report of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on the National Food Reserve Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2026 (SB 139) during plenary on Tuesday.
The bill, sponsored by the lawmaker representing Kwara Central, Senator Salihu Mustapha, proposes a structured national framework for managing food reserves to cushion the impact of shortages and emergencies across the country.
Presenting the report, Mustapha said the proposed agency would enhance the nation’s preparedness for supply disruptions by ensuring efficient storage, preservation, and timely release of food stocks.
He explained that the agency would serve as a national buffer system, maintaining strategic grain reserves that can be deployed during crises such as natural disasters, conflicts, and market instability.
The lawmaker noted that the initiative was designed to address recurring vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s food system, particularly in the face of growing threats to agricultural productivity.
Nigeria’s food supply chain has come under increasing pressure in recent years due to insecurity in key farming regions, climate-related shocks such as flooding and irregular rainfall, and rising costs of agricultural inputs.
These factors have contributed to persistent increases in food prices and reduced access to affordable food for many households, intensifying concerns over national food security.
Mustapha expressed confidence that the proposed legislation would strengthen institutional capacity, reduce dependence on external food sources, and promote self-sufficiency in agricultural production.
The bill is expected to undergo further legislative processes before its final passage.
