To tackle Nigeria’s hunger and boost its economy through agriculture, Dr. Okoduwa proposes an unconventional yet drastic solution. He suggests appointing 43 ministers of agriculture, with each of the six geopolitical zones having a coordinating minister and the 36 states and FCT having a Minister of State for Agriculture .
Key Proposals:
- Ministerial Requirements: All 43 ministers must be senior lecturers or above from the Faculty of Agriculture.
- State Representation: Each Minister of State must be from the assigned state, and the coordinating minister from each geopolitical zone must also be from that zone.
- Crop Identification: Ministers of State will identify crops with comparative advantages in their states and ensure large-scale production.
- Land Utilization: Ministers will collaborate with governors and commissioners to make idle land available to farmers.
- Reward System: 5% of incremental production will go to ministers, civil servants, and public officials involved in the program.
- Security: Stealing inputs will be treated as terrorism or treason.
Goals and Benefits:
- Increase food production and security
- Reduce reliance on oil
- Encourage farming as a profitable venture
- Create employment opportunities
- Boost Nigeria’s agricultural export
Challenges and Solutions:
- Potential increase in governance costs: Try the system for two years and reassess.
- Duplication of roles: Federal ministers will push governors to prioritize agricultural development.
- Governors’ lack of motivation: Federal government-led initiatives will drive economic growth.
By implementing these measures, Nigeria can harness agriculture’s potential, reduce hunger, and create a more sustainable economy. The Netherlands, smaller than Nigeria’s South-West region, generates three times more revenue from agricultural exports than Nigeria does from oil .
