Philip Nyam 
The House of Representatives on Wednesday urged 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.
The House equally advised the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to introduce more incentives to encourage farmers and enhance agricultural production.
The resolution was consequent upon the adoption of a motion sponsored by Muktar Shagaya.
Leading debate on 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 the government.
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.
The lawmaker, who quoted facts from reports from the World Bank and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), disclosed 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.
Speaking further, the lawmaker insisted that there was an urgency to enforce the Export (Prohibition) Act, 2004, to halt food smuggling, ensure the availability of food, and reduce the cost of living for Nigerians.
The motion was unanimously passed and referred to the joint committees on agricultural production and services, legislative compliance, customs, commerce, and industry to ensure compliance and report back within four weeks.
