Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has attributed the escalating activities of bandits and kidnappers to the unemployment crisis in the nation. Speaking at the 9th International Trade Exhibition & Conference on Agrofood, Plastics, Printing, and Packaging held in Lagos, Obasanjo emphasized the urgent need to address unemployment as a measure to enhance national security. He underscored the importance of providing employment opportunities to dissuade individuals from engaging in criminal activities such as banditry and kidnapping.
Identifying himself as a fervent advocate for agriculture, Obasanjo emphasized the pivotal role of agribusiness in ensuring food security, promoting nutrition, generating employment, fostering wealth creation, alleviating poverty, and boosting foreign exchange earnings. He stressed the imperative of enhancing food availability, affordability, and accessibility to achieve comprehensive food security. Additionally, he highlighted the significant portion of food wasted after cultivation, emphasizing the critical importance of addressing food security and nutrition security through robust agribusiness practices.
Obasanjo further advocated for youth involvement in agriculture as a potent strategy to curb unemployment, youth migration, and insecurity. He lamented the prevalent attraction of Nigerian youths to the entertainment industry and called for efforts to make agriculture more appealing and lucrative. Furthermore, he urged policymakers to establish consistent policies and facilitate access to single-digit loans for farmers to enhance profitability and sustainability in agribusiness.
The Managing Director of Fairtrade Messe, Paul Maerz, emphasized the significance of the exhibition in showcasing tailored products and solutions for the Nigerian market. He highlighted Nigeria’s increasing investments in food and packaging technology and its emergence as a key player in Africa’s agrofood sector.
Addressing the issue of post-harvest losses, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, stressed the urgent need to tackle inadequate storage and transportation facilities, which result in substantial economic losses and threaten food security. He emphasized the crucial role of cold chain infrastructure in preserving the quality and nutritional value of agricultural produce, pledging the government’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and collaborations to enhance cold chain networks.
Ambassador Wouter Plomp of the Kingdom of the Netherlands reaffirmed his nation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in achieving food security, emphasizing the importance of creating an enabling environment for agriculture to thrive as a vital component of the economy.
