Food Security Bill

Food Security Bill Policy Overview

What Is This Policy?

A comprehensive bill to establish Nigeria's legal framework for achieving food security, defining government obligations to ensure adequate, safe, nutritious, and affordable food for all Nigerians, and coordinating interventions across agriculture, trade, nutrition, and social protection. The Food Security Bill proposes to establish a legal framework under the Nigerian Constitution, particularly provisions on fundamental rights and government obligations related to food security.

Smallholder farmers and food producers across all agricultural zones Nutritionally vulnerable groups — children under five, pregnant women, and the food-insecure poor Federal and state ministries of agriculture, trade, and humanitarian affairs Development partners and NGOs working in food and nutrition security

Who Does It Target?

Federal and state governments responsible for food security policy. Farmers, agricultural producers, and food processors. Food-insecure Nigerians, particularly vulnerable households and children. International development partners and financial institutions supporting food security programmes.

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Enshrine the right to food as a justiciable obligation on government through legislation Reduce the prevalence of food insecurity from 40% to below 20% of the population by 2030 Achieve strategic national food reserves of 6 months' supply of staple commodities Coordinate all food security interventions under one national food security framework and authority

Key Features

Current Status

Funding: Federal and state agriculture budgets; World Food Programme; IFAD and FAO programme support

How to Access

Vulnerable households access food support through state government social protection schemes and the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme. Requirements: Households below the food poverty line: registration on the National Social Register Farmers: registration with state Agricultural Development Programmes (ADP) Emergency food assistance: automatic eligibility during declared food crises Application method: State Ministries of Agriculture and Humanitarian Affairs; www.agriculture.gov.ng

Important Terms

Government must publish an annual National Food Security Report to the National Assembly States are required to establish and fund state-level food security committees Strategic food reserves must not fall below 3 months' supply; breach triggers emergency replenishment

Impact & Metrics

Nigeria has 25 million food-insecure people and ranks 103rd on the Global Hunger Index; a legal food security framework creates accountability for reversing this trend.

Official Resources

Website: www.agriculture.gov.ng | www.nema.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Agriculture — [email protected] Federal Republic of Nigeria — Policy Summary Document | March 2026

Legal Framework

The Food Security Bill proposes to establish a legal framework under the Nigerian Constitution, particularly provisions on fundamental rights and government obligations related to food security.