A bill to establish the National Tea and Coffee Development Council was passed by the Senate on Tuesday.

The passage of the bill tagged, “Nigerian Tea and Coffee Development Council (Establishment) Bill, 2022”, followed the adoption of the report of Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.

Presenting the report, Abdullahi Adamu (APC-Nasarawa), the chairman of the committee, said the council would be saddled with responsibilities of developing and promoting the growth, production, processing and marketing of tea and coffee in Nigeria.

Mr Adamu said the establishment of the council will facilitate the generation of foreign exchange for the country, so as to reduce over dependence on the exportation of crude oil as the mainstay of Nigeria’s source of revenue.

The lawmaker said that the passage of the bill would be a bold-step towards revamping tea and coffee business in Nigeria, while at the same time creating employment for youths.

Meanwhile, two bills to establish the Federal Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies Kotonkarfe, Kogi and the National Innovation Agency have scaled second reading in the Senate.

The bills were sponsored by Smart Adeyemi (APC-Kogi) and Sen. Uche Ekwunife (PDP- Anambra).

(NAN)