The Firm provides expert guidance on compliance with legislations, policies, and standard specifications applicable to agribusiness. We work with our clients to leverage on the opportunities and overcome the challenges in the Nigerian agricultural legal and regulatory framework. Our team guides our clients through the processes required for the exportation of agricultural produce and value added products, consolidation of production and marketing entities in agriculture, investment risk management, among other things.
Our clients grow their businesses, through our expert guidance on the laws and regulations on financial incentives, subsidies, agriculture insurance, available to players in the agricultural industry. Our clients’ are far ahead of their competitors because we advise extensively on international trade laws like the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) 2000 and the African Free Trade Agreement 2019, thereby ensuring our clients are able to collaborate internationally for sustained business growth.
We facilitate the speedy procurement of authorisations required by law for; the purchase of land meant for agricultural purposes, the transfer of interests in land situated in urban and non – urban areas in accordance with the provisions of the Law in the Land Use Act 1978, import permits, exportation permits, NAFDAC and Standards Organisation of Nigeria registration licenses and manufacturer’s permit for client’s in the processing midstream and upstream Agribusiness value chain, certifications for notified seeds, and authorizations for the registration, naming and release of old and new crop varieties and livestock breeds.
Our team guides and advises our clients on regulations governing the manufacture, formulation, importation, sale and distribution of pesticides in Nigeria as well as facilitate their registration in accordance with the provisions of the Pesticide Registration Regulations under the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Act (NAFDAC Act).
AGRIBUSINESS INVESTMENT AND FINANCE LAW
The firm has a highly competent investment and finance practice team led by one of our partners who has over 10 years’ experience in banking and commercial treasury operations and corporate project finance. Our clients rely on our expertise to guide them on their short- and long-term investment opportunities, vertical integration strategies, and the legal implications of those finance decisions.
We understand the often stringent requirements of investors for financing investments and businesses in the Agribusiness value chain, so the firm offers legal, business and regulatory advisory services to clients, to help them access the much needed finance for their businesses, farms, agro allied processing plants etc. Our Clients are often investors in agribusiness through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) who leverage on our expertise on the legal and regulatory framework of the Nigerian Agricultural sector. Therefore we provide the best options available to potential investors in terms of acquisition of shares, loans and repatriation of capital.
Our clients rely on our professional advice on suitable credit facilities, obtaining loans that reflect their cash flow pattern, and negotiating lending quotas and interest rate. The Firm works with clients to explore opportunities presented by various credit schemes, such as the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) and even go further to liaise with financial institutions to facilitate the procurement of loans by clients under the Fund.
We also advice on and negotiate the mergers and acquisitions of businesses in their production and supply chain, partnerships between anchor companies involved in agricultural processing and smallholder farmers and agricultural Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
The Firm is able to facilitate Mergers and Acquisitions transactions between foreign and local companies in accordance with the Investment and Securities Act (ISA) and the National Investment Promotion Act (NIPA).
The firm offers legal representation at the Investment and Securities Tribunal to our clients in the capital market in respect of disputes involving decisions of the Securities and Exchange Commission in the operation and application of the ISA.