By Olugbenga Salami
The Agricultural Revolution Bill 2026 has scaled second reading in the Senate after the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin moved for its passage on Wednesday.
Barau, sponsor of the bill listed as SB 1082, clarified why the bill was stepped down on Tuesday, saying senators complained they did not receive copies and that distribution was done immediately after sitting.
The bill seeks to provide a comprehensive legal framework for transformation and modernisation of agriculture, promote food security, productivity, mechanisation, irrigation, financing, agro-industrialisation, rural development and climate-resilient farming.
According to him, agriculture which has been the mainstay of the nation’s economy is not going in the right direction, and the bill will provide a holistic legal framework to transform the sector and end food imports.
He noted that the Green Revolution Programme introduced by former President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic was patriotic but lacked legal backing, making it easy to abandon.
“Go to Kano, particularly the Sharada and Bompai industrial areas. Those places that were once beehives of industrial activities are now largely dormant,” Barau said.
Contributing, Senator Mohammed Monguno, (Borno North), said the bill gives muscular expression to economic diversification away from oil, noting agriculture accounts for about 40 per cent of GDP and employs about 70 per cent of Nigerians, yet budgetary allocation remains below three per cent against the 10 per cent Maputo target.
Senator Babangida Hussaini, (Jigawa North-West), who spoke as a farmer, lamented that since the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme of 1976, sustainable financing has remained elusive, saying Jigawa produces some of the world’s best hibiscus and sesame seeds but loses value due to poor marketing and storage.
Senator Anthony Ani, (Ebonyi South), a Professor of Agricultural Extension, said the bill is comprehensive, touching mechanisation, irrigation, research, innovation, extension, financing and support for youths, women and small-scale farmers.
After debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the bill to the Committees on Agricultural Production, Services and Rural Development, and Agricultural Colleges and Institutions to report back within four weeks.
