Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has suggested that reducing food price inflation and increasing food security may be achieved by increased investment in agriculture.
Obi made this statement in his greeting for 2022 World Food Day, which will be held on October 16.
The former governor of Anambra stated that the rising food costs in the country are due to the government’s seeming disregard for the agricultural sector.
He blamed insecurity for the present food inflation, which he said was caused by the inability of farmers to go to their farms and produce food.
Obi stated that he would make national security a top priority if elected president in 2023. He argued that a secure nation was necessary for any significant progress to be made, including the production of large quantities of food.
His argument was that lowering food prices would result in farmers’ returning to their farms once security was restored.
He said that the government had moved resources away from oil because the country was too dependent on it, which led to low production and high prices.
According to Obi, Nigeria’s greatest asset is the country’s huge fertile land, particularly in the north.
“Borno State is 70,900km² in landmass, yet, they have uncultivated lands that are not yielding any productivity to the country.
“Sambisa forest, vast farmland in Borno State, is twice the size of Israel, which is just about 22,000km².
“Israel produces enough food for its population and for exports, while Nigeria can hardly feed the people.
“Borno State is twice the size of the Netherlands, which is about 33,000km2 in land mass excluding water.
“In 2021, the Netherlands exported agricultural products worth $120 billion, while Nigeria with a land mass of 923,770 km² cannot yet feed itself because we are depending on the now dwindling oil proceeds,” he said.
Obi said he is confident that Nigeria, under his watch, will shift from consumption to production and that adequate food production will be achieved in the country by making the necessary investments in agriculture.
