Godswill Akpabio, who is the Senate President, announced during plenary on Wednesday that President Bola Tinubu assented to two bills passed by the national assembly.
Akpabio stated, “President Bola Tinubu has assented to two new bills. He assented to the export prohibition repeal and re-enactment bill 2025.” This move followed the legislature’s approval of the measures.
Export Prohibition Repealed
The first bill repealed the Export (Prohibition) Act of 1989. That act restricted exports of staple products such as maize, rice, yam tubers, beans, cassava tubers, and timber.
Lawmakers prioritized local consumption and domestic food security through the original law. However critics argued the act became outdated and limited Nigeria’s export potential in agriculture. It discouraged foreign investment and hindered the country’s comparative advantage as a major producer.
Additionally the repeal occurred amid a food crisis. In 2024, Tinubu directed full compliance with the existing act to curb smuggling and protect local supplies. The new bill aimed to expand exports by removing these barriers.
IDP Convention Domesticated
The second bill domesticated the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons, also known as the Kampala Convention.
Adopted by the AU in 2009, the convention established a legal framework to prevent displacement, protect IDPs, and provide durable solutions for their return or reintegration. Nigeria signed the convention in 2009 but delayed domestication until now.
Benjamin Kalu, who is the deputy speaker of the house of representatives, sponsored the domestication bill. The house passed it, and the senate concurred. This enforcement strengthened rights for IDPs across the nation.
Implications for Nigeria
These assents marked steps toward economic growth and humanitarian progress. The export bill positioned Nigeria to increase agricultural trade.
Meanwhile the IDP bill aligned national laws with international standards. Both measures addressed long-standing challenges in exports and displacement.
