Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 elections, has stated that focusing on agricultural investment is a key way to address hunger and insecurity in Africa.
The former governor of Anambra spoke as a panelist at an international food security conference in Kigali, Rwanda, on Friday.
On his X handle, Obi emphasized that Africa’s hunger crisis can only be effectively addressed by prioritizing agriculture.
He explained that reducing dependence on food imports would help ease pressure on our currency, stabilize exchange rates, and control 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 highlighted the need to explore the untapped potential in food production in Nigeria and other African countries.
He added: “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.”
He believes that with significant investment in agriculture and food systems, we could create jobs, reduce poverty, and fight hunger at the same time.
