The Senate, on Wednesday, revised the bill aimed at prohibiting the export of maize, introducing a provision for a minimum one-year jail term for individuals convicted of exporting unprocessed maize in large quantities.
The amended bill, originating from the House of Representatives, seeks to ban the export of maize and its derivatives in substantial commercial amounts.
Following consideration of its clauses by the Committee of the Whole, the bill was approved through a voice vote by the majority of senators.
The revised provisions state that any individual who exports, facilitates the export, induces another person to export, or attempts to export unprocessed maize — whether in grains, on cobs, fresh, or dry — in large commercial quantities of at least one metric ton or more, is guilty of an offence.
A person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1) is liable, on conviction, to a fine equal to the monetary value of the goods exported or sought to be exported, or imprisonment for a term of one year, or both.
A customs officer or other person who aids counsels, procures, or conspires with another person to commit an offence under this section is liable, on conviction, to the penalty under subsection (2). The Federal High Court has jurisdiction over any offence committed under this Bill.
The lead debate on the bill for concurrence was presented by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central).
Bamidele said the bill aimed to prohibit the export of maize.
He noted that the bill also seeks to address the ongoing food crisis in Nigeria.
The Senate Leader emphasised that the bill was straightforward and had passed through the necessary legislative process in the House of Representatives.
He therefore urged his colleagues to support the bill.
The senator representing Kebbi South Senatorial District, Garba Maidoki, however, proposed an amendment to remove derivatives from the provision of the bill.
He said, “We must be fair to our people. We are the farmers, we grow these things.”
Aminu Abbas (PDP, Adamawa Central) seconded the amendment.
Some maize derivatives include corn flour, cornmeal, corn gluten, cornflakes, cornstarch, and others.
The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, approved the amendment to the provision to accommodate only the export of maize.
Jibrin said, “The derivatives are the products of the value chain because you create jobs by allowing that to occur.”
With the passage of the bill excluding derivatives from its provisions, the two chambers of the National Assembly will have to organise a conference committee to harmonise and resolve whether to delete the derivative clause before transmitting it to the president for assent.
The Deputy Senate President also stated that the differences in the bill will be resolved at the conference committee.
