FG begins review of 18 agricultural laws to boost food sovereignty, Investment

The Federal Government has commenced the second phase of the review of Nigeria’s agricultural laws, seeking to replace outdated provisions with a modern legal framework capable of strengthening food sovereignty, attracting investment and supporting sustainable agricultural development.

The Director of Legal Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Hafsat Dupe Belgore, represented by the Assistant Legal Adviser, Manbyen Mamvong, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at the opening of the Second Phase of the Stakeholders’ Technical Retreat on the Review of Nigeria’s Agricultural Laws.

Belgore said the first phase of the exercise involved a comprehensive diagnostic mapping of existing agricultural legislation and was highly consultative.

According to her, the exercise identified obsolete provisions, overlapping mandates, regulatory gaps and areas where existing laws no longer reflect current realities, including climate change, mechanisation, agricultural technology, private-sector investment and the transformation of food systems.

She described the second phase as a more critical stage of the reform process, as it would move the exercise from diagnosis to concrete legal re-engineering.

Belgore said the phase would focus on validating findings and draft reform proposals from the first phase, gathering sector-specific inputs and aligning the review with the Renewed Hope Agenda, relevant national laws and international best practices.

“This session is therefore not a repetition, but a consolidation. We are here to refine, to interrogate draft provisions, and to ensure that the new legal framework we are crafting is practical, enforceable, inclusive, and capable of driving Nigeria towards food sovereignty and agribusiness-led economic growth,” she said.

She urged stakeholders to make frank and constructive contributions, assuring that their inputs would be captured and reflected in the final legal drafts.

Also speaking, Chairman, House Committee on Agricultural Production Services, Hon. Bello Ka’oje, represented by the Deputy Chairman, Rt. Kelechi Nwogu, described the review of the 18 agricultural laws as an important step towards ensuring that Nigeria’s legal framework remains relevant to emerging realities and opportunities in the sector.

He pledged the commitment of the National Assembly to working with the Ministry and other stakeholders to ensure that the outcome translates into practical and effective legislation.

The Consultant and Lead Partner, Thinkfield Law, Emeka Ogenyi, said the retreat would enable stakeholders to validate proposed amendments, incorporate approved inputs and submit the final harmonised version to the Ministry of Justice for legal drafting.

He said the amendments would provide a modern and coherent legal framework to support sustainable agricultural development and investment.

The retreat was attended by members of the National Assembly, representatives of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Ministry of Justice, Ministry directors, agencies, legal experts and other stakeholders.