Reps plan revival of farm settlements as food imports hit $10bn yearly

By Sodiq Omolaoye, Abuja

The House of Representatives has commenced moves to revive Nigeria’s defunct farm settlement scheme as part of efforts to tackle food insecurity and reduce the nation’s dependence on food imports, which gulp about $10 billion annually.

The initiative followed a public hearing on three key agricultural bills held on Monday by the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services in Abuja.

The hearing saw stakeholders deliberating on three proposed legislations that would define the nation’s agricultural landscape.

The bills were: “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’ push to restore the farm settlement system recalls the visionary plan introduced by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Premier of the defunct Western Region, between 1955 and 1960.

Awolowo’s administration, after studying Israel’s agricultural cooperative model known as Moshav, established 20 farm settlements and five agricultural institutes across the Western Region in 1959.

The model was later adopted by the Eastern and Northern regions in the early 1960s but gradually collapsed due to policy neglect, poor funding, and weak institutional support.

This also comes amid alarming figures 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 last year.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, recently disclosed that Nigeria spends about $10 billion annually on food imports, including wheat and fish, despite vast arable land and a favourable climate.

Speaking at the event, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, said the bills under consideration would redefine Nigeria’s agricultural landscape and restore the country’s self-reliance in food production.

According to Abbas, 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.

“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,” the Speaker said.

Chairman of the Committee, Bello Ka’oje, said the Farm Settlements Bill would revive and modernise farm settlements, turning them into hubs for agro-industrial development, youth empowerment, and rural transformation.

He noted that agriculture remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and the most reliable path to inclusive growth and poverty reduction.

He said: “This public hearing offers all stakeholders, including policymakers, farmers, researchers, investors, and development partners, an opportunity to share valuable perspectives. Your insights today will help us refine these bills to ensure they are practical, forward-looking, and beneficial to all segments of the agricultural sector.

“As a Committee, we are committed to ensuring that every law passed by this House 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 business that drives national prosperity.”