The Senate on Wednesday revised and approved a bill to prohibit the export of unprocessed maize, imposing a minimum one-year jail term for individuals convicted of exporting maize in large commercial quantities without proper processing. This legislative move, initiated by the House of Representatives, aims to curb maize exportation and address the ongoing food crisis in Nigeria.

The revised provisions of the bill state that any individual involved in exporting, facilitating the export, or inducing another person to export unprocessed maize—whether as grains, cobs, fresh, or dry—in quantities of at least one metric ton or more, will be guilty of an offence. The punishment includes a fine equivalent to the monetary value of the goods exported, a minimum imprisonment term of one year, or both.

Customs officers or any other person found aiding or conspiring to commit such offences will also face the same penalties. The Federal High Court has been granted jurisdiction to handle offences arising from this bill.

Senate Debate and Amendments
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) introduced the lead debate, emphasizing the bill’s objective to prohibit maize exportation and bolster food security. He described the legislative process as straightforward and urged colleagues to support its passage.

During deliberations, Senator Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South) proposed an amendment to exclude maize derivatives, such as corn flour, cornmeal, corn gluten, and cornstarch, from the bill’s purview. He argued that restricting these derivatives could be unfair to farmers and processors who contribute to the agricultural value chain.

Supporting the amendment, Senator Aminu Abbas (PDP, Adamawa Central) emphasized the importance of retaining derivatives for job creation and economic growth. The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, approved the amendment, stating that allowing the production and export of maize derivatives aligns with efforts to create jobs and strengthen the agricultural sector.

Path to Harmonization
With the amendment limiting the ban to raw maize exportation, discrepancies now exist between the Senate and House versions of the bill. Both chambers will need to convene a conference committee to harmonize these differences before transmitting the final version to the President for assent.

Deputy Senate President Jibrin expressed confidence that the differences would be resolved, stating, “The derivatives are part of the value chain that creates jobs. Harmonization will ensure the law achieves its intended goals while accommodating fair provisions for stakeholders.”