The Nigerian Senate took decisive action on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, to address a growing crisis threatening the nation's agricultural sector. Lawmakers called for urgent federal intervention to protect farmers from collapsing produce prices and the crippling cost of essential inputs.
Motion Highlights Growing Crisis for Farmers
The push for action originated from a motion sponsored by Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje, representing Gombe Central. He painted a stark picture of the challenges facing Nigerian agriculture, highlighting the dangerous and widening gap between falling farm-gate prices and the persistently high costs of necessities like fertilisers, pesticides, and insecticides.
Senator Goje warned that this unsustainable squeeze is directly threatening the livelihoods of millions of farmers across the country. He acknowledged government efforts to lower consumer food costs through import waivers but pointed out a serious unintended consequence: these cheaper imports have severely depressed prices for locally grown produce.
This situation has led to razor-thin profits for farmers and is causing massive post-harvest losses, as produce often cannot be sold at a sustainable price.
Senate's Comprehensive Rescue Plan
Fearing that continued price declines could discourage planting in future seasons—thereby weakening domestic food production and rural economies—the Senate passed several key resolutions. The legislative body called for an emergency intervention package to provide immediate relief to affected farmers.
A central part of the proposed solution is the revival and strengthening of commodity boards to stabilise agricultural markets. The Senate specifically urged the Federal Government to:
- Subsidise the cost of fertilisers and other critical inputs.
- Establish benchmark minimum prices for major agricultural commodities.
- Implement a guaranteed off-take programme where public agencies would buy produce at pre-agreed, fair rates.
Furthermore, lawmakers advocated for significant investment in storage facilities, irrigation systems, processing centres, and rural road networks. They emphasised the need for better coordination between federal ministries, state governments, commodity boards, and farmer cooperatives to ensure fair pricing, efficient transport, and improved market access for local produce.
Safeguarding Food Sovereignty
The Senate also addressed broader strategic concerns. Lawmakers warned that an overreliance on imported food undermines Nigeria's food sovereignty and leaves the national economy vulnerable to unpredictable global price shocks and supply chain disruptions.
To create a more level playing field, senators recommended a review of existing import waiver policies. The goal is to adjust these policies so that locally grown goods can compete fairly with foreign imports, thereby securing the long-term viability and growth of Nigeria's agricultural sector.
In Other Senate Business: Ambassadorial Appointments Confirmed
In separate proceedings on the same day, the Senate approved the nomination of three individuals for ambassadorial appointments. The approval followed the consideration of a report from the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Senator Abubakar Sani Bello.
The confirmed nominees are:
- Ayodele Oke, former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and ex-Ambassador to the Commonwealth Secretariat in London.
- Colonel Kayode Are (rtd), former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS).
- Amin Dalhatu, Nigeria's immediate past Ambassador to South Korea.
The nominees were unanimously endorsed after a voice vote conducted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. In his remarks, Akpabio urged the ambassadors-designate to leverage their extensive experience in the performance of their new diplomatic duties.
