The House of Representatives has initiated moves to revive Nigeria’s defunct farm settlement scheme as part of efforts to address food insecurity and reduce the nation’s reliance on food imports, which currently gulp about $10 billion annually.
This development followed a public hearing held on Monday by the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services in Abuja, where stakeholders deliberated on three critical agricultural bills aimed at reshaping the country’s agricultural framework.
The bills under consideration include: A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Agricultural Development Fund (Establishment) Act, 2025 (HB 2036); A Bill for an Act to Establish the National Farm Settlements Agency to Promote Agricultural Development, Ensure Food Security, and Foster Economic Growth (HB 1347); and A Bill for an Act to Provide a Legal Framework for the Establishment of the National Rice Production, Processing and Research Institute, Argungu, Kebbi State (HB 423).
The lawmakers’ plan to restore farm settlements revives the vision of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Premier of the defunct Western Region, who between 1955 and 1960 established 20 farm settlements and five agricultural institutes after adopting Israel’s cooperative agricultural model known as Moshav.
The initiative was later replicated in the Eastern and Northern regions but gradually collapsed due to policy neglect, poor funding, and weak institutional support.
The push comes amid fresh data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showing that Nigeria’s food import bill rose by 33 per cent in the second quarter of 2025 to N1.18 trillion, up from N893 billion in the same period of 2024.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, recently disclosed that Nigeria spends about $10 billion annually importing key food items such as wheat and fish, despite abundant arable land and favourable climatic conditions.
Speaking at the hearing, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, said the bills under review were designed to redefine Nigeria’s agricultural future and restore self-sufficiency in food production.
According to him, “These proposals represent more than just legislation; they are a blueprint for a more secure, prosperous, and self-reliant Nigeria. They demonstrate our commitment to harnessing the vast potential of our agricultural resources to improve the lives of our citizens.”
Abbas noted that the revival of farm settlements aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Government’s declaration of a state of emergency on food security.
Chairman of the Committee, Bello Ka’oje, said the Farm Settlements Bill seeks to modernise the old scheme, transforming it into a network of agro-industrial hubs that will drive rural transformation, youth empowerment, and food production.
He emphasised that agriculture remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and the most sustainable pathway to inclusive growth and poverty reduction.
“This public hearing provides an opportunity for all stakeholders, policymakers, farmers, researchers, investors, and development partners, to share valuable perspectives that will help refine these bills into practical and forward-looking instruments,” Ka’oje said.
“As a committee, we are committed to ensuring that every law passed strengthens productivity, enhances innovation, and provides real value to Nigerian farmers.
“We will continue to collaborate with the Executive, relevant agencies, and the private sector to make agriculture a viable business that drives national prosperity,” he added.
