Right To Food Nigeria
Learn about our journey to securing the right to food for all citizens. Discover the activities and impact of the National Campaign on Right to Food in Nigeria. Download Booklet to get the full perspective of the FIF’s human rights approach to food security in Nigeria.
From Human Need to Human Right:
Discover the inspiring journey behind Nigeria's landmark Right to Food Act (No. 34 of 2023). Learn about the history, the passionate advocacy, and the profound impact of the National Campaign on Right to Food in Nigeria, a movement dedicated to ensuring that every citizen has access to adequate, nutritious, and dignified food.
A Nigeria Where No One Goes Hungry
Food is not just a basic necessity; it is a fundamental human right. For too long, food insecurity in Nigeria has been a persistent challenge, stemming not from a lack of food itself, but also from systemic issues that hinder its equitable access and availability. The Farm and Infrastructure Foundation (FIF), through its flagship project, National Campaign on Right to Food in Nigeria, has been at the forefront of transforming this reality.
We believe that by shifting our perspective from food as a mere human need to food as a guaranteed human right, we can unlock lasting solutions to hunger and malnutrition across the nation. Hence our mantra that "Technology matters, but policy also matters the more," underscores our commitment to policy-driven change for sustainable food security.
From Policy to Legislation
The Right to Food Act (No. 34 of 2023) is the culmination of years of tireless advocacy to transform the barebones food policy to an enforceable food legislation in Nigeria; this through strategic engagement and unwavering dedication; the Act representing a crucial step towards policy accountability, and ensuring that government policies and programs are designed and implemented to effectively guarantee food security for all Nigerians.
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Conceptualized in 2007, Launched in 2008: Our campaign began with a clear vision to embed the right to food within Nigeria's constitutional framework.
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Overcoming Hurdles: The path to this Act was challenging, involving numerous engagements with legislative bodies, advocacy efforts, and overcoming initial setbacks.
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A Milestone Achieved: After years of persistent effort, the Right to Food Bill was successfully passed by the National Assembly and subsequently signed into law in March 2023, marking a new era for food security in Nigeria.
Why the Right to Food Matters: Impact and Importance
The Right to Food Act is more than just a piece of legislation; it's a commitment to:
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Dignity and Freedom: Ensuring that every Nigerian has the freedom from hunger and malnutrition, allowing them to live a decent and dignified life.
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Policy Accountability: Holding governments at all levels responsible for implementing policies that guarantee food availability, accessibility, and affordability.
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Sustainable Development: Addressing the root causes of food insecurity, including issues of governance, accountability, and rule of law.
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Empowering Communities: Fostering a society where citizens are empowered to demand their right to food and actively participate in ensuring food security for themselves and their communities.
Trajectory of the Act:
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6th Assembly (2007-2011) – A memorandum was submitted by FIF to the National Assembly Committees on Constitution Review (Senate and House of Representatives), in which the idea of human right to food in Nigeria was echoed for the first time. The request was for both chambers of the National Assembly to introduce a Bill on the floor to recognize food as a human right in the constitution, which request failed before both committees and was not recommended to each chamber for further consideration. Then, on FIF’s initiative, the memorandum was reduced to a draft Bill and directly introduced to the House of Representatives as a private member’s Bill. This attempt also failed at the First Reading stage before the tenure of that assembly expired in 2011.
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7th Assembly (2011-2015) - The Bill was reintroduced, again at the instance of FIF, in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, and vigorously pursued through legislative advocacy and increased commitment. However, it also failed at the First Reading stages in both chambers, before the expiration of that assembly in 2015.
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8th Assembly (2015-2019) - The Bill was recast by FIF and simultaneously reintroduced at both the House of Representatives and Senate, at which time the Bill succeeded past the First Reading and Second Reading stages, thereby entering the committee stage in each chamber. However, the Bill failed again, so it was not tabled for the Third and final Reading in either chamber before the tenure of that assembly expired in 2019.
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9th Assembly (2019-2023) - the current version of the Bill was reintroduced, again by FIF in both chambers, following which it smoothly progressed in passage from First Reading, to Second Reading, and to Committee/Third reading stages, successfully; and eventually received the blessing of the individual and joint committees of the Constitution review committees.
Content of the Act:
ENACTED by the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria -
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The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (in this Act referred to as “the Principal Act”) is altered as set out in this Act. That, “Section 16 of the Principal Act is altered” –
a. in subsection 2(d), by substituting for the words the words “suitable and adequate food” the words “right to food and food security”; and
b. “by inserting after section 16, a new section “16A” –
“Food security.”
16A. (1) The State shall direct its policy towards ensuring that –
(a) strategies that guarantee food security of the nation regarding availability, accessibility and affordability of food to the citizens are initiated, undertaken and implemented;
(b) the means of production, conservation and distribution of food are upgraded and improved upon on a continuous basis; and
(c) adequate measures are provided to ensure that food security of the nation is not compromised by any individual, group or institution.
2. The State shall promote and sustain activities that enhance food security”.
Join the Movement!
The passage of the Right to Food Act is a victory, but the work continues. We are now focused on the effective implementation and deployment of this crucial legislation. Your engagement is vital to making the vision of "That All May Eat, and Eat Well in Nigeria" a reality.
How You Can Get Involved:
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Learn More: Explore our campaign's history, key activities, and plans.
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Spread the Word: Share our message on social media using #RightToFoodAct_NG.
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Engage with Us: Connect with us to learn about opportunities for advocacy and community participation.
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Support Our Work: Your contributions help us continue our vital efforts.
