Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Abbas Tajudeen Abbas, has emphasised the need for Nigeria to embark on decisive agricultural reforms anchored on substantial investments in research and development to guarantee food security and economic sustainability.

Speaking through the Deputy Majority Whip, Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim,at a public hearing on 11 agricultural sector bills, the Speaker said the proposed legislations reflect a collective ambition to modernize the nation’s agricultural framework through legal instruments and innovative policies.

He maintained that when passed, the bills would strengthen research centres, enhance farmer engagement, improve livelihoods, and boost rural development outcomes. He also called for a shift from archaic practices to innovation-driven, inclusive agricultural growth.

In his remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, Hon. Isiaq Akinlade, traced Nigeria’s decline in agriculture to the oil boom of the 1970s. He stressed the urgent need to revitalize the sector, citing its potential to tackle unemployment, climate change, and rural poverty.

The hearing also saw support from the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari who was represented by Bello Abubakar and state government representatives, as they endorsed the bills aimed at establishing institutions such as the National Institute of Agricultural Research and Entrepreneurship in Ogun State, and the Federal College of Land Resources Technology in Sokoto State.