Nigeria Must Invest Intentionally in Agriculture
Peter Obi Calls for Focused Agricultural Investments
Combat Food Insecurity: Obi Advocates for Agricultural Growth
BY SHEKWOPEYELO
Peter Obi, the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, insists that Nigeria must prioritize its agricultural investments to overcome food insecurity. In a statement released by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Umar, Obi reacted to a recent World Bank Food Security Update Report, which reveals alarming trends in Nigeria’s food crisis.
Obi compared Nigeria’s worsening food security situation to war-torn nations like Yemen, highlighting a surge in people facing acute food shortages. He stated, “These reports, sad as they are, only paint a lenient picture of the severity of the food crisis.”
He has long argued that transitioning from consumption to production is crucial for combating food insecurity. “Our greatest asset is our vast uncultivated lands in the North, coupled with our large population,” Obi added.
He expressed disappointment that a state like Niger, larger than The Netherlands, struggles to feed itself. In contrast, The Netherlands exports over $100 billion in agro products annually. Obi called for Nigeria to similarly prioritize agricultural investment, tackle insecurity that keeps farmers from working, and adopt modern mechanized farming methods.
“If we can do this, we will combat hunger and achieve food security,” he stated, envisioning a productive, hunger-free Nigeria.
