Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi has said Nigeria has the human and natural resources needed to overcome poverty and hunger, arguing that the country’s challenges are largely the result of years of mismanagement and corruption.
Speaking at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt, Obi said Nigeria should not be importing food given its enormous agricultural potential.
He argued that increased investment in agriculture, particularly in Northern Nigeria, could transform the economy, create millions of jobs, improve food security and position the country as a major food exporter.
On petrol subsidy removal, Obi reaffirmed his 2023 position that the subsidy system was plagued by corruption. He said the government should have first established the true cost of the subsidy before implementing a carefully planned, phased removal.
Obi also said savings from subsidy removal should be transparently invested in agriculture, healthcare, education, poverty reduction, security, infrastructure and human capital development, insisting that Nigerians should see tangible benefits from the policy.
He concluded that Nigeria’s prosperity depends on competent, honest and purposeful leadership that prioritises the common good over personal interests.
👉Daily Times
