Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has renewed his call for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, saying the country has the capacity to defeat food insecurity and earn more from farming than from oil if the right policies are implemented.
In a post shared on his X handle on Tuesday, Obi said Nigeria possesses the natural and human resources needed to become a major agricultural exporter but has failed to maximize its potential due to weak policies and poor execution.
“I have continued to reiterate that Nigeria can conquer food insecurity and even go further to earn as much—if not more—from agriculture than from oil,” he wrote.
“Our country has all that can make that happen, the land, the climate, and the human capacity to feed itself and become a major agricultural exporter. What has been lacking is not potential, but properly formulated policies and disciplined implementation.”
Drawing from his past experiences, Obi recalled his visit to Songhai Farms in Cotonou, where he observed the impact of structured and integrated farming.
“After visiting the Songhai Farms in Cotonou and seeing firsthand what deliberate planning and integrated farming can achieve, I supported the adaptation of that model at Masdevan Farm in Urum,” he said.
According to him, the farm has grown into a successful centre for food production and youth empowerment.
“Today, the farm is doing remarkably well, not only producing food but also training young farmers and demonstrating how agriculture can become a viable engine of growth,” Obi stated.
“With the right investment and policy consistency, agriculture can stimulate industries, create jobs, and transform our economy. Nigeria must act with urgency.”
The former Anambra State governor also cited the Mai Shayi Coffee Farm on the Jos Plateau as another example of how focused agricultural investment can drive economic development.
“The Mai Shayi Coffee Farm on the Jos Plateau stands as another powerful reminder of what is possible,” he said.
“Built on a 30-hectare Arabica plantation with integrated processing facilities, it shows how agriculture can move beyond subsistence into value-chain production—creating employment, generating export earnings, reducing poverty, and driving rural development.”
Obi noted that with proper government support, such initiatives could be replicated nationwide.
“With the right enabling environment, such models can be replicated across the country,” he added. “I sincerely commend and thank the initiators of the Mai Shayi project for demonstrating what focused agricultural investment can achieve.”
He concluded by stressing that Nigeria’s transformation depends largely on political will and policy consistency.
“A new Nigeria is possible with the right policies—and the will to implement them,” Obi wrote.
His comments come amid growing concerns over rising food prices, insecurity affecting farming communities, and the country’s heavy dependence on oil revenue, issues that experts say make agricultural reform more urgent than ever.
By CALLISTUS OFFOR, Abuja
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