Nigeria has no business with poverty, says Obasanjo

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has commented that Nigeria cannot afford poverty, attributing the issue to the nation's underutilization of its abundant natural resources, agricultural potential, and human capital. During a recent interview on C-Suite Café, Obasanjo emphasized the country's vast arable land, favorable climate, and ample water resources, which could enable food production and large-scale agricultural exports.

He also highlighted Nigerians' entrepreneurial and intellectual capacity as valuable assets, both within the country and in the diaspora. Additionally, Obasanjo stressed the importance of diversifying Nigeria's revenue streams by tapping into solid minerals, alongside crude oil and natural gas. He criticized policy inconsistencies and abandonment of long-term programs when administrations changed, alongside concerns about public borrowing and revenue leakages.

The former leader pinpointed corruption, crude oil theft, and leakages in revenue generation as potential obstacles to deploying the country's resources for development. Obasanjo concluded that addressing Nigeria's poverty requires political will, policy continuity, particularly in food security, and fiscal accountability at all government levels.