Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, emphasized that prioritizing investment in agriculture is a crucial way to combat hunger and insecurity across Africa.
Speaking as a panelist at an international conference on food security in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, on Friday, the former governor of Anambra State highlighted the importance of agricultural development.
In a message shared on his X handle, Obi noted that addressing Africa’s hunger crisis requires significant attention to agriculture. He explained that reducing dependence on food imports would alleviate pressure on local currencies, stabilize exchange rates, and curb inflation caused by high food prices.
“Today, I was one of the panellists at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 held in the Rwandan capital, Kigali.
“At the session, I reiterated my long-held position that food insecurity in Africa is intrinsically linked to human insecurity.
“Using Nigeria as an example, I emphasised that solving food insecurity is a major path to general security in the country.
“By investing in agriculture and food-related productivity, Nigeria will not only be addressing the hunger crisis but will also create huge job opportunities for the teeming unemployed population, especially the youths in their productive age,” he said.
Obi emphasized the importance of exploring the untapped potential in food production within Nigeria and other African countries.
“Bangladesh, with approximately 148,000 square kilometres, less than 1/6th of Nigeria’s about 923,768 square kilometres, produces 35-40 million tonnes of rice annually.
“In contrast, Nigeria produces only 3-4 million tonnes of rice, which is roughly 10% of Bangladesh’s rice production.
“This disparity, which is similar to the African situation, highlights the untapped potential of Africa’s agricultural sector, and underscores the need for investment.
“Food insecurity, if addressed properly in Africa, can be a catalyst for enhancing human security and promoting overall development,” Obi added.
He pointed out that with substantial investments in agriculture and food systems, we can create jobs, reduce poverty, and address hunger all at once.
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