Obasanjo: Nigeria's Poverty Linked to Agricultural Neglect

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has attributed Nigeria's poverty to its inability to effectively utilize its agricultural resources. In an interview on C-Suite Cafe hosted by Ikem Okuhu, he argued that Nigeria possesses the necessary land, water, rainfall, and human resources to produce sufficient food and create wealth.

Obasanjo recounted his experience as chairman of the African Union, where he observed Guinea-Bissau's reliance on imported food despite its rich agricultural resources. He criticized the reversal of Nigeria's 1979 rice import restrictions by subsequent administrations, which he claimed discouraged local production and harmed farmers.

Obasanjo's remarks underscore the importance of leveraging Nigeria's agricultural potential to reduce dependency on imports and improve the nation's economic standing.