Food processing has got to be the epicentre of Nigerian manufacturing. To get the process going, our National Assembly needs to pass this Agricultural Produce Storage Bill 2026

Ayo Akinfe

[1] Every single one of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas is compelled by law to complete the construction of at least one farm goods storage facility by the end of 2026. Such facilities must include warehouses and silos

[2] Farmers’ cooperatives will be local government-based and be given tax rebates if they build local on-farm storage facilities and silos in their rural communities

[3] Food retailers and distribution chains will be given tax rebates if they purchase refrigerated lorries and trucks to retrieve farm goods from farmers

[4] Every headquarter of each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas will have a train station on the national rail network. These stations will all have food storage facilities

[5] A 48-hour delivery charter will be launched under which we guarantee that farm goods will be on retail shelves anywhere in Nigeria within 48 hours of being harvested

[6] Six special cargo aircraft will be leased by the federal agriculture ministry to fly farm goods to any part of the world. Under this programme, we pledge to get Nigerian farm produce to anywhere on earth within 72 hours of harvest

[7] Every local government chairman must refurbish at least 10 rural roads a year. Local governments that fail to maintain rural roads will have a state of emergency declared in their territory and their assets confiscated by the state government

[8] Farmers will be encouraged to maintain and construct rural roads to enable them get their produce to market. Anyone who does so will either get a tax rebate or be reimbursed for the amount spent

[9] Each state capital will have a mega farm goods storage facility that includes silos, warehouses and food processing plants. State governments are compelled to hold food stocks at such facilities

[10] Farmers will be reimbursed for damages that occur to their produce as a result of bad rural roads. They will be able to take their local government chairmen to court and claim such damages

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