PHOTO: Peoples Gazette
The 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, on Monday, expressed his disappointment that Nigeria, a country that was once economically self-sufficient, now has to rely on food assistance from a war-torn country like Ukraine.
“As laudable as Ukraine’s kind gesture is, it speaks volumes for us as a people endowed with all needed human and natural resources, that a country officially prosecuting a brutal war of national survival with its powerful neighbour, Russia, is generous and kind enough with their food supplies to help us who are officially at peace,” Obi said in a statement.
“For the people of Ukraine, this act of human solidarity testifies to a rare generosity of spirit which should earn them greater global solidarity. It demonstrates our shared humanity.”
Obi, in a statement, described the situation as a “national disgrace” and attributed the situation to “years of leadership failure.”
He called for “urgent reflection” on national priorities, stating that Ukraine, with a population of 43 million on 603,728 km2, outshines Northern Nigeria, covering 744,249 km2 with a young, energetic population exceeding 100 million. In 2015, Ukraine’s GDP per capita was $2125, compared to Nigeria’s $2680.
Despite being at war, Ukraine’s GDP per capita exceeded $4000, while Nigeria’s regressed to $2184. Ukraine cultivates over 60% of its arable land, whereas Nigeria has over 60% uncultivated arable land, Obi added.
“Despite the conflict, Ukraine feeds itself, and exports agricultural products worth over $25 billion which is about the same value as our crude oil export earnings, and it serves as a strategic global food supplier, even providing aid to a peaceful yet unproductive Nigeria.
“To overcome this embarrassment, we must aggressively reorder our priorities by investing resources in productive sectors like agriculture. Addressing insecurity is crucial for farmers to return to their fields, enabling a productive manufacturing sector and supporting small businesses.”
Obi, however, urged that in 4 to 5 years, this concerted effort can reverse the current trend, leading us toward a productive and New Nigeria that I believe is possible and within reach.
Obi’s criticism is in response to a recent donation made by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
The WFP donated 25,000 tonnes of wheat from the Government of Ukraine to provide emergency food assistance to 1.3 million people affected by the crisis in northeast Nigeria.
The Senior Communications & Public Diplomacy Officer of the British High Commission, Atinuke Akande-Alegbe, in a statement on Thursday, stated that this donation is part of Ukraine’s humanitarian “Grain from Ukraine” initiative, launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Akande-Alegbe added that the arrival of the grains was timely, as the prices of staple foods in Nigeria have risen, making it difficult for millions of vulnerable families to afford basic meals.
The shipment was made possible following a collaborative effort from the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Norway, the Republic of Korea and Sweden, which has helped cover the costs of transporting the wheat from Ukraine to Nigeria and its distribution to the families who so urgently need it.
