Labour Party presidential flag bearer in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, has said that with over 34 million hectares of arable land, Nigeria has no justification for importing food items.
Obi who was the keynote Speaker at the 47th annual conference and general meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology(NIFST), held Wednesday in Umuahia, Abia State, regretted that with a landmass of 923,769 square kilometres Nigeria had not yet achieved self-sufficiency in food production.
According to the former Anambra State Governor said that Sambisa forest alone if well utilized for agricultural purposes, could sufficiently produce Nigeria’s food need.
He further argued that the rising foreign exchange rate could be effectively controlled through massively investment in agriculture both for local consumption and export.
Obi blamed Nigeria’s leaders for their lack of interest in agriculture which according to him, is very critical.
He said that the teeming unemployed Nigeria youths could be meaningfully engaged through agriculture.
Citing countries like Vietnam, America and Thailand as good examples of countries which have taken their citizens out of poverty through agriculture, Obi challenges all tiers of government in Nigeria to prioritize agriculture.
He regretted that corruption and bad leadership had remained the major impediment towards development of agriculture.
The LP presidential candidate vowed to sustain his struggles against corruption and poverty until Nigeria is finally liberated.
“We must dismantle this criminality and make Nigeria to work for our children,” Obi declared.
Vice Chancellor of the Michael Okpara University, MOUAU, Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, was among the members of NISFT present at the conference.
