Nigerian Senate Passes Agricultural Revolution Bill for Second Reading

The Nigerian Senate passed the Agricultural Revolution Bill, 2026, for a second reading on November 4, 2026. Sponsored by Barau I. Jibrin, the legislation seeks to modernize the agricultural sector through a legal framework focusing on mechanization, irrigation, and climate-resilient farming to combat food insecurity and poverty.

The bill's progress was delayed on November 3 during a rowdy session where lawmakers clashed over its structure and distribution. Senator Abdul Ningi argued the draft resembled a motion rather than a law, while Senator Yahaya Abdullahi claimed the agricultural sector was too broad to be covered by a single omnibus bill. A heated dispute also erupted over the use of a WhatsApp platform for distribution; Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled that digital copies were insufficient and ordered the distribution of printed documents per Senate Rules.

Following the distribution of physical copies, the Senate moved forward with the second reading on Wednesday. Jibrin argued the bill is necessary to reverse the decline of a sector that previously supported major industries in Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt. Senate President Akpabio has now referred the bill to the Senate Committees on Agricultural Production Services and Rural Development, and Agricultural Colleges and Institutions for further scrutiny, with a mandate to report back within four weeks.