A Former Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi has addressed the perception of Nigeria’s economic status, firmly stating that the country is rich and capable of self-sufficiency in food production. He refuted claims of poverty, pointing out that despite Nigeria being ranked as the 109th hungriest nation in the world, it remains reliant on imports, such as grains from Ukraine, which is currently embroiled in conflict.
He called for a transformation in agricultural practices across Nigeria, emphasizing the potential for the nation to harness its vast agricultural resources. He specifically mentioned the Sambisa Forest, challenging the notion that it represents a threat rather than an opportunity. He argued that the area could be easily converted into productive agricultural land, and he highlighted the relatively short time it takes to traverse such territories.
He said in a live coverage by Symfoni from 0:12, ‘Let nobody tell you that Nigeria is a poor country, Nigeria is a very rich country. It’s a country that can feed itself. Ukraine is at war, but Ukraine sends grains to Nigeria to help them fight hunger, because we are number 109 hungriest country in the world. You must have to change that through all these territories. We are seeing agricultural fields everywhere in the country.
So, they tell you about Sambisa Forest, that is an agricultural field, and it is a very simple thing to convert. I don’t think it will take you more than 3 hours or 4 hours to drive all through the Sambisa forest, but I can tell you that if you go to Morocco today, from Casablanca to Port of Tangier, it is about 366 kilometers or thereabout, and it takes you 4 and a half hours, and on both sides, all you will see is cultivated land that will feed the people. We can’t have such places in our country standing as a threat to us; it just shows that we don’t have competent leaders.”