The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has called for the speedy passage of Nigeria’s proposed Agricultural Extension Services Revitalisation Bill, saying the legislation is critical to improving farm productivity and building a resilient agri-food system.
Kyari made the call while speaking with Nigerian journalists covering the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS) 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda.
He said the outcomes and discussions at the continental forum aligned closely with Nigeria’s agricultural priorities, particularly efforts to move the sector from subsistence farming towards a productive and competitive agribusiness system.
The 20th AFS, held under the theme ‘Investing in Africa’s Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience,’ focused on food security, job creation, climate resilience, investment and inclusive agricultural development.
According to Kyari, these priorities are also reflected in the proposed Agricultural Extension Services Revitalisation Bill currently before the National Assembly.
He described agricultural extension as a critical driver of food sufficiency, increased productivity and sustainable agricultural development, stressing that the proposed law would provide a stronger framework for modernising extension services and improving farmers’ access to knowledge, technology and markets.
The minister disclosed that the bill had already passed first reading in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, urging lawmakers to give it urgent attention.
‘It is important to invest in agri-food systems, include women, youth and persons with disabilities, build climate resilience, and provide opportunities for finance and markets through a professional extension service,’ Kyari said.
He added that strengthening agricultural extension had remained one of his priorities since assuming office.
Kyari noted that several issues discussed at AFS 2026-including technology adoption, improved seed systems, climate-smart agriculture, digital transformation, data management and stronger collaboration among farmers, researchers, development partners, financial institutions and the private sector-were central to the proposed legislation.
He recalled his call at the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week in Abuja in July 2025 for stronger collaboration among governments, researchers, development partners, the private sector and farmers, saying such partnerships were essential to transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Also speaking in Kigali, the Founder and Global Advocate of the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN) and Head of the WOFAN-ICON2 Project, Hajia Salamatu Garba, expressed support for the proposed legislation.
Garba said WOFAN was among the co-sponsors of the Agricultural Extension Services Bill and had been working with stakeholders, private-sector partners and farmers’ clusters to strengthen Nigeria’s extension system.
She said the key themes of AFS 2026, including investment in agri-food systems, youth empowerment and entrepreneurship, women’s inclusion, climate resilience and sustainable agriculture, closely mirrored the objectives of the proposed bill.
Garba confirmed that the legislation had passed its initial stages in both chambers of the National Assembly, while the public hearing and other legislative processes were still outstanding.
She appealed to Kyari to support efforts to fast-track the bill’s passage, expressing optimism that its enactment would strengthen agricultural extension services and help address major challenges confronting farmers across Nigeria.