Nigeria’s Senate wants to combat hunger by making corn exports illegal

In an attempt to combat hunger in the West African country, the Nigerian Senate passed a measure on Friday that would criminalize the export of significant amounts of unprocessed grain, according to papers seen by Reuters.

In a generation, the most populous nation in Africa is facing its most severe cost-of-living problem.

President Bola Tinubu’s austerity measures, which included depreciating the naira and removing a decades-old gasoline subsidy, have made economic suffering worse and increased inflation.

Because of the exchange rate difference with the West African CFA franc, the weak Nigerian currency has encouraged casual shipments of sorghum, rice, and grain to nearby nations.

A staple in Nigeria, corn is also used to make processed flour, beverages, and animal feed.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects that Nigeria would export 75,000 metric tons of corn in 2024–2025, up from its 2023–2024 projection of 50,000 metric tons.

Under the Senate plan, exporting unprocessed grain in quantities of less than one metric ton would be prohibited; the bill must be signed into law by the president.

Violators risked a year in jail or penalties equal to the corn’s worth.

According to a joint report released in November by the United Nations and the Nigerian government, over 30 million people—a one-third increase from this year—are predicted to experience food insecurity in the coming year.

Nigeria imports around 100,000 metric tons of maize annually, whereas its consumption is estimated by the USDA to be over 12 million metric tons.