The Senate has moved forward with a bill proposing the creation of a National Food Reserve Agency, passing it for a second reading on Tuesday.
Sponsored by Senator Salihu Mustapha (APC, Kwara Central), the bill aims to establish a legal framework to address post-harvest challenges, particularly those linked to climate change. Senator Mustapha highlighted the agency’s role in facilitating the creation and maintenance of buffer stocks to stabilize food prices and enhance food security.
“The proposed Food Reserve Agency will be responsible for the storage of food grains and other key commodities for strategic use,” he noted. He also emphasized that the agency could help mitigate the current economic pressures related to rising food prices by ensuring a steady supply of essential food items.
After the second reading, the Senate referred the bill to the Committee on Agriculture for further examination, with a report due in four weeks.
