Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last election, has advised the Federal Government to address the food crisis in the country by investing significantly in agriculture.
In a statement issued on Monday to mark 2023 World Food Day, the former Anambra governor emphasised that utilising the fertile soil in the northern part of Nigeria for agriculture could alleviate the food crisis.
He argued that effectively utilising the land in the north would result in increased food production, enough to cater to both domestic consumption and exportation.
Obi also expressed concern about the activities of non-state actors, such as armed and terrorist groups, disrupting food production and supplies by attacking farmers in various communities.
Obi urged the government to make substantial investments in agriculture to ensure ample food production for Nigeria and the global market, asserting that such investments could potentially generate more revenue than the country’s oil sector.
His statement reads in part: “Consequently, a vast majority of Nigerians spend the entirety of their disposable income on food, which is often hardly enough.
“The horrible spate of attacks on farmers in Nigeria by armed and terror groups has continued to hinder food production and food supplies, therefore threatening to push the country deeper into a devastating hunger crisis. Lack of adequate investment in agriculture also contributes greatly to the food crisis in Nigeria.
“I have maintained that the vast fertile lands in the North if put into productive agricultural use, will produce enough food for domestic consumption and for exports, which can give us more revenue than we generate from oil. Government, therefore, must invest heavily in agriculture to ensure sufficient food production for Nigeria and the global world.”
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