Hunger Crisis: Lack of policy continuity hindered growth of Agriculture in Nigeria – Obasanjo

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has urged African nations to focus more on maintaining policies, pointing out that lack of continuity has been one of the main obstacles to attaining food security and other goals on the continent.

Obasanjo asserted that if Nigeria had maintained the culture of policy continuity in its development and food production efforts, the country’s and continent’s hunger issue would not have been this worse.

He maintained that to achieve increased food production and sufficiency at the state, national at continental levels, the government must be ready to provide an enabling environment and ensure the continuity of assisted agricultural policies.

Obasanjo stated this at the unveiling of Okun Rice Mills at Asero, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital on Thursday evening.

He said, “Part of our problem in Nigeria and Africa as a whole is lack of continuity and this is very bad for every development at family level, state level, national level and continental.

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“What I found so ridiculous is that because there has been no continuity in so many things we are doing, you will hear people saying “for the first time ever” as if Nigeria is just beginning today whereas the problem is lack of continuity.

“When you go back you will find out that some people have done that which they are talking about in the past and if we had continued our situation wouldn’t have been as bad as it is particularly in the area of food production.

“I have always said that government has no business in production, the primary duty of the government is to provide the enabling environment for agricultural production and other business enterprises to thrive so as to achieve food security.

“So, I am saying that for us to achieve increased food production and achieve food sufficiency at the state, national at continental level, the government must be ready to provide the enabling environment and ensure continuity of assisted agric policies to enhance food production”.

The Ota farmer lauded the Chief Executive Officer of Hyst Global Business Limited, Biodun Onalaja for his bravery and tenacity and urged him to also prioritise supporting the local rice farmers and get the paddy rice to mill from them.

Responding, Onalaja hinted that the mill has the capacity to produce 100 metric tonnes of high-quality rice daily in various packing options from 1kg to 50kg.

He appreciated Gov Dapo Abiodun and other government functionaries for their support and cooperation to ensure the success of the partnership with the state government.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Bolu Owotomo said that the Okun Rice venture is another success story of the Public Private Partnership of the present administration in the state.

Owotomo, represented by Suraj Ishola, Director of Research, Planning and Statistics in the ministry said that the state government will continue to create an enabling environment and support the farmers and other investors in agricultural enterprise to thrive.