• Step down bill to repeal export prohibition law
• Warn of diplomatic rift over U.S. three-month visa policy

The House of Representatives, yesterday, passed for first reading a controversial bill seeking to ban public and civil servants, including their families, from using private educational and health institutions.

Meanwhile, it stepped down consideration of a bill seeking to repeal the Export (Prohibition) Act over ambiguities in the committee report presented for adoption.

On the diplomatic front, the green chamber faulted the United States government’s decision to limit non-immigrant visas for Nigerian citizens to a three-month single-entry permit.

The proposed export legislation, which had scaled first and second readings, and undergone a public hearing, was designed to give legal backing to the growing cross-border movement of Nigerian food products especially within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region.

Entitled ‘A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Export (Prohibition) Act, Cap E22, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and for Related Matters (HB. 2460), its repeal would open up unrestricted export of such produce.

The Export (Prohibition) Act bars the export of certain agricultural and raw commodities, including maize, rice, yam tubers, beans, cassava tubers and timber, to protect local food supply.

During consideration of the report on the bill at the Committee of Supply presided over by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, the lawmaker representing Wase Federal Constituency, Idris Wase, expressed worry that repealing the law could worsen food insecurity, given Nigeria’s production shortfalls.

He noted that the country was still heavily reliant on imports of staples such as rice and maize, and that removing restrictions would encourage mass export and potentially drive up local prices and hurt consumers.

Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, while canvassing support for the bill, said the treaty obligations under ECOWAS had already facilitated the free movement of agricultural produce across West African countries, stressing that formal repeal would benefit Nigerian farmers.

Kalu, who presided over the session, ruled that the bill be stepped down following concerns raised by some lawmakers over the clarity and structure of the report.

The proposed legislation to restrict public servants to the use of public facilities, sponsored by Amobi Ogah (Isuikwuato/Umunneochi of Abia State), aims at compelling government workers to rely on public institutions for education and medical care.

Ogah, while addressing journalists after plenary, argued that the trend of public officials sending their children to private or foreign schools and travelling abroad for medical care worsened the decay in public facilities.

He lamented that the country, in 2024, allocated N1.336 trillion to health care, a situation he said was a far cry from the estimated N1.6 trillion (over $1 billion) Nigerians spend yearly on medical treatments abroad.

The lawmaker alleged that Nigerians spent at least $29.29 billion on foreign medical expenses during the eight years of the late Muhammadu Buhari’s presidency.

Rising on a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Muhammad Mukhtar, and four others, the lower chamber called on Washington to immediately reverse the visa policy, which replaced the previous five-year multiple-entry regime.

It warned that the move could damage bilateral relations and disrupt the lives of millions of Nigerians. Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Mukhtar expressed concern that the policy, which took effect on July 8, 2025, would have far-reaching implications for business, education and family ties, particularly for members of Nigeria’s vibrant diaspora community. He warned it could also undermine efforts to sustain over $1 billion in monthly Diaspora remittances.

The lawmaker stressed the long-standing strategic partnership between Nigeria and the U.S., anchored on democratic values, mutual respect, and cooperation in trade, education, and security.

The House further mandated the Nigeria-United States Parliamentary Friendship Group to formally communicate the House’s position to the U.S. Congress, the State Department and the Embassy in Nigeria, and intensify diplomatic efforts for fairer immigration policies.

It directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage the U.S. Government diplomatically to prevent further erosion of relations and to protect the dignity and mobility of Nigerian citizens.