By Charles Igwe
Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, has strongly criticized the Nigerian government for accepting a donation of 25,000 metric tonnes of wheat from war-torn Ukraine, calling it a national disgrace. The donation, provided by the Ukrainian Government to support the World Food Programme (WFP) in addressing the urgent food needs of 1.3 million crisis-affected people in North-East Nigeria, was part of the humanitarian “Grain from Ukraine” initiative initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
While acknowledging the generosity of Ukraine, Obi expressed deep concern that a country embroiled in a brutal conflict with Russia would be extending aid to Nigeria, a nation officially at peace. He lamented the discrepancy between Ukraine’s ability to donate food amidst war and Nigeria’s need to receive such assistance, attributing it to years of leadership failure in Nigeria. Obi emphasized the critical role of sound political leadership in national development and underscored the need for urgent reflection and a reordering of national priorities, particularly in resource management and allocation.
Highlighting Ukraine’s remarkable agricultural productivity despite the ongoing conflict, Obi contrasted it with Nigeria’s untapped potential in the agricultural sector. He pointed out that while Ukraine cultivates over 60% of its arable land and exports agricultural products worth over $25 billion, Nigeria has over 60% uncultivated arable land and relies on imports for food security.
To address the embarrassment of depending on foreign aid for food assistance, Obi called for aggressive investment in productive sectors like agriculture. He stressed the importance of addressing insecurity to enable farmers to return to their fields, supporting small businesses, and driving economic growth.
Obi’s critique comes at a time when Nigeria is grappling with high food prices and inflation, prompting the government to release grains in an effort to alleviate the situation. He urged policymakers to prioritize long-term solutions to enhance food security and reduce dependency on foreign aid.
