The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has restated that Nigeria can generate more revenue from agriculture than crude oil if the country embraces intentional leadership and strategic investment in agriculture.
Obi made the statement on Thursday in Abuja while speaking at the Sahel Food Systems Changemakers Conference 2025, organised by Sahel Consulting, with the theme: “Designing for Legacy: Building Resilient and Impact-Driven Food Systems.”
The conference drew key stakeholders in development, agribusiness, and sustainability.
Speaking at the event, Obi decried the contradiction of Nigeria battling hunger despite its vast arable land and capable population.
According to him, it is unacceptable for Nigerians to go to bed hungry when the nation has the potential not only to feed itself but also to become a major exporter.
“No Nigerian should go to bed hungry. Nigeria, blessed with vast arable land and human capital, should not be listed among the hungriest countries in the world. Instead, we should be self-sufficient and exporting,” he said.
He compared Nigeria’s output to Bangladesh, noting that the Asian country, with land size similar to Niger and Borno states combined, produces nearly ten times more rice than Nigeria.
“This reality reflects our misplaced priorities. It is not a lack of capacity, but a lack of commitment and leadership focus,” he added.
Obi also toured exhibition stands showcasing local agribusiness innovations from companies such as AACE Foods, SEM Food and Prices, Dmore Foods, and CHC Agritech Africa.
He applauded the entrepreneurs for their resilience, saying their work underscores the need to support MSMEs and strengthen the agricultural value chain.
He maintained that with the right policies and supportive environment, agriculture could overtake oil as Nigeria’s main revenue source.
“It is time for Nigeria to realise that we can earn more from agriculture than from oil. For Nigeria to rise, we must move from consumption to production, from dependency to productivity, and from rhetoric to action,” Obi said.
He concluded by expressing confidence in Nigeria’s potential, “Our farmers, entrepreneurs, and innovators are ready.
“The government must simply create the enabling environment for our youths and for our nation. A new Nigeria is possible.”
