President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law the Export (Prohibition) Act (Repeal) Bill 2025, effectively repealing the Export (Prohibition) Act, first enacted in 1989, by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida.
The new law scraps the erstwhile 37-year-long restrictions on the export of several agricultural commodities in a move aimed at boosting farm production and accelerating Nigeria’s economic diversification.
The Bill, sponsored by Francis Ejiroghene Waive, member representing Ughelli North–Ughelli South–Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives of Nigeria, and co-sponsored by Jimi Benson, repeals the Export (Prohibition) Act, first enacted in 1989, by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida.
Commending Tinubu’s signing of the Bill into law, Waive issued a statement Tuesday saying the now-repealed law had long constrained the growth of Nigeria’s agricultural sector and prevented the country from fully benefiting from global demand for farm produce.
According to him, the restrictions imposed by the 1989 legislation had become counterproductive, limiting the country’s ability to earn foreign exchange through agricultural exports.
Waive explained that despite the ban, agricultural commodities such as beans, cassava, maize, rice and yams—as well as their derivatives—are already exported daily through ports across the West African sub-region.
He noted that the situation had continued to deprive Nigeria of foreign exchange earnings that should ordinarily accrue to the country.
The lawmaker expressed optimism that repealing the Act would unlock new opportunities for Nigerian farmers and agro-processors to expand production for international markets.
He described the presidential assent as a major milestone for the agricultural sector, noting that the reform would encourage increased investment and productivity across the value chain.
Waive also commended President Tinubu for signing the bill into law and appreciated members of the National Assembly for supporting its passage.
