Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government to prioritize the development of northern Nigeria’s agricultural potential as a solution to the country’s ongoing food insufficiency crisis.
During a private Ramadan visit to Kebbi State, part of his tour to assess conditions in the northern region, Obi highlighted Nigeria’s rank of 109 in the global index of hungry nations.
He emphasized that Nigeria’s persistent poverty and hunger stem from the government’s failure to adequately invest in agriculture, particularly in the northern region with its vast arable land suitable for both peasant and mechanized farming.
Obi stressed that investing in agriculture would address various national challenges, including the foreign exchange crisis, insecurity, poor education, and unaffordable healthcare. By boosting agricultural production, Nigeria could generate foreign exchange through exports, thereby transitioning to a production-based economy.
Expressing concern over Nigeria’s significant amount of uncultivated land and high youth unemployment rates, Obi emphasized the potential for agricultural investment to create millions of direct and indirect jobs.
During his visit to the Emir of Gwandu’s Palace, Obi announced initiatives to support the local community, including direct Ramadan feeding for 100 indigent individuals and the commissioning of a borehole in Kahuta village behind Dukku Army Barracks, Birnin Kebbi. He clarified that his visit was apolitical and aimed at providing assistance to those in need.
In response, the Emir of Gwandu, Muhammadu Illiyasu Bashar, expressed gratitude for Obi’s visit and underscored the importance of his advice to invest in northern agriculture as a means to alleviate poverty in the region and the country at large.
Obi concluded by reiterating his commitment to seeing Nigeria thrive and emphasized the need for concerted efforts from leaders to ensure the prosperity of all citizens, especially the underprivileged.
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