Invest in North for Nigeria's food production, Peter Obi tells FG

From  Samaila Bayo, Birnin Kebbi

The former presidential candidate of Labour Party in the last election, Peter Obi on Sunday in Kebbi State urged the federal government to invest in the uncultivated abundant land mass in northern Nigeria for food production to solve the nation's inflation and insecurity.

He said the nation can make more money from agriculture than its making from the oil proceeds if it invest in the huge land mass the north is blessed with by engaging in agricultural production and move away from it's present economic situation.

The labour party's candidate who had earlier paid a courtesy visit to Governor Nasiru Idris at the government house while in the Emir's palace in Birnin Kebbi said he has embarked on a tour of the country to see things for himself on how the present economic hardship is affecting the people and as well offer his support to them during the Ramadan, insisted that investment in agriculture is the way out of Nigeria's economic hardship.

He said "Nigeria, according to UNICEF is the 20th hungriest country in the world. Federal Government should invest in agriculture, health and education to solve inflation and security challenge that's bedeviling the nation.

"Kebbi's 36.8 land mass is more than the country of Belgium. If Kebbi can do 20 percent of what Belgium is doing in agriculture it will feed the nation.

"Unless we cultivate the uncultivated lands in the north for agriculture we may not move away from where we are today. 

"We cannot continue like this,the agricultural potential of the north must be utilize for the economic benefit of Nigeria".

Earlier at the government house, Governor Nasiru Idris who was represented by the Secretary to the state government thanked Peter Obi for the visit. He said his administration in the last eight months has embarked on huge investment in agriculture and infrastructural development. "We procured N2.7bn worth of fertilizer and other farm inputs free of charge to farmers in the state" he said.

The Emir in his response commended the labour party's candidate for taking time out to see the situation of things in the country and as well offer support to the needy. He said the problem is not peculiar to Nigeria. 

"Other countries are going through the same economic hardship. We should pray for the country and it's leadership", the Emir said.