Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has raised alarm over Nigeria’s increasing dependence on imported goods and the nation’s neglect of agriculture, warning that without urgent reforms, the country might soon find itself importing even traditional local products like palm wine from China.
Speaking at a pre-convocation lecture at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), the Governor emphasized the need for massive investment in agriculture to help revive Nigeria’s faltering economy. Despite Nigeria’s large population and abundant arable land, he expressed regret that the country continues to struggle with food insecurity and youth unemployment. He declared, “Any country that cannot feed itself is not truly sovereign.”
Uzodinma reiterated that agriculture remains the cornerstone of national development and security. He lamented that after discovering crude oil, Nigeria abandoned agriculture, which had been its economic backbone before independence. “We adopted petro-dollar and orphaned agri-dollar,” he said, noting how the volatile oil market pushed agriculture aside as Nigeria’s largest source of foreign exchange.
In his speech, delivered by his Commissioner for Education, Professor Victor Nwachukwu, Uzodinma urged fellow Governors to embrace the late Michael Okpara’s green revolution and return agriculture to its rightful place in the nation’s economy. He also called on regional organizations, such as Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the South East Economic Development Fund, to focus on funding research for modern agricultural practices in Igbo land.
The Governor emphasized the need to preserve local agricultural species, such as the “ehi Igbo” (local cattle), “okuko Igbo” (local poultry), and “ewu Igbo” (local goats), which are on the verge of extinction. He also raised concern about the declining raffia palm tree, a vital source of palm wine, warning that Nigeria might eventually have to import palm wine and other local delicacies.
Uzodinma criticized agricultural university lecturers for focusing too much on theoretical knowledge rather than engaging in practical farming. He urged agricultural institutions to spearhead research, innovation, and the application of modern farming techniques to improve productivity.
Additionally, Uzodinma called for the establishment of agro-processing factories to add value to Nigeria’s agricultural raw materials. He argued that it makes no sense for Nigeria to export cocoa and then import processed cocoa products at high prices.
The Governor concluded that a nation that excels in agriculture is likely to accelerate its development, pointing to the benefits of food security, job creation, poverty reduction, and foreign exchange earnings. He cited Malaysia’s transformation from sourcing palm fruit from Nigeria to becoming the world’s leading producer and exporter of palm oil.
Uzodinma also compared Nigeria’s struggles with Ukraine, which, despite the ongoing war, remains the world’s top exporter of wheat, while Nigeria, in peacetime, continues to battle food insecurity.
