Victoria Mbangwa
The Federal Government has initiated a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s outdated agricultural legislation in a bid to align legal frameworks with the country’s ambitious food security, climate adaptation, and rural development goals under President Bola Tinubu’s agricultural reform agenda.
At a high-level workshop convened in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, said the review process is critical to modernizing Nigeria’s agricultural systems and positioning the sector as a major driver of economic growth.
“The sector’s dynamism, is evident in the shift from traditional farming practices to more modern techniques, diversification of crops and livestock and adaptation to changing weather patterns’,” Abdullahi stated.
The Minister noted that Nigeria’s agriculture sector is transitioning from traditional to modern systems, marked by diversification, digital extension services, and responsiveness to climate change. However, without a robust legal framework, this transition risks stalling.
One of the legislative priorities, according to the Minister, is the review of the Nigerian Co-operative Societies Act, which he said is key to unlocking grassroots agricultural productivity and is expected to feature prominently in the President’s midterm achievements.
The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, reinforced the Ministry’s commitment to inclusive reform, stressing the need for laws that ensure land tenure clarity, access to financing, and standards in seed and fertilizer quality. He also advocated stronger inclusion of smallholder farmers, women, and youth in shaping the legislative framework.
Dr. Garba Isimbabi, Director of the Ministry’s Legal Services Department, described the workshop as a springboard for actionable proposals that could strengthen rural livelihoods and streamline food systems across the country. He emphasized that the legal overhaul will help attract private sector investments and provide greater protections for farmers.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), and the Cooperatives Association of Nigeria, who pledged their support for the initiative.
