Former Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has expressed his profound admiration and support for Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s agricultural initiative, likening it to his own "Operation Feed the Nation" policy of 1976.
Obasanjo made the commendation during a courtesy visit by a delegation of commissioners and special advisers from Niger State to Abeokuta.
In a press statement made available to newsmen by the Special Adviser on Print Media to the Governor of Niger State, Aisha Wakaso, the visit included a tour of a cutting-edge soilless farm, where young Nigerlites are undergoing training in innovative agricultural techniques for eventual replication in the state.
The former president emphasised that with modern equipment now available, the impact of such initiatives can make agriculture and food production greater than before.
Obasanjo highlighted the critical importance of agricultural self-sufficiency, stating, "Until Nigeria begins to feed itself, the challenges facing the country will persist. A nation that cannot feed itself is sitting on a time bomb."
He urged other state governors to follow Niger State’s lead in agricultural development to ensure that Nigeria can produce the majority of its own food.
The former president encouraged Niger State to continue investing in agriculture and to explore modern methods to enhance existing practices. He expressed his intention to visit Niger State with his team to learn from its progress and exchange ideas to improve and add value to his own agricultural endeavours.
Obasanjo also advised Nigerians to consider investing in soilless farming, warning that with the current rate of land use, Nigeria could soon face a shortage of arable land. He stressed that innovative farming techniques are essential to sustaining the nation’s agricultural productivity.
In the statement, Aisha Wakaso emphasised that the team assured the former president that the Niger State government remains committed to advancing agriculture and will continue to seek out and implement innovative solutions to the nation’s food security.