I’m your friend, Dr. Charles Apoki, and I want to share some thoughts with you as I stand here on this beautiful farmland. Look at this lake and the harvested maize. I saw a collection of hay for animals during winter, and the cows here—if you saw the size of their udders, you’d know they produce a lot of milk. What’s even more fascinating is the fact that the average European cow receives a subsidy of about $2.5 every day. That’s right, $2.5 per day! Compare that to the health budget allocated to the average Nigerian during Buhari’s administration, which was only $8 per year. In just four days, a European cow gets more subsidy than a Nigerian citizen’s entire health budget for the year. Isn’t that something?
Now, subsidies aren’t necessarily bad. If a part of the economy requires it for the nation to have a competitive advantage, subsidies can be beneficial. Take food production, for instance. In many parts of the world, food is affordable because farmers are subsidized. When I visited Australia, I saw farmers driving luxury cars because they had access to loans, subsidies, and incentives. If Nigeria is serious about returning to agriculture, we need to focus on large, mechanized farms like this one. Large-scale farms can employ more people and help feed our nation.
Driving through rural areas like this gives me peace, and I believe our rural communities can become the future of Nigeria’s development. We should reverse the rural-to-urban drift and instead have an urban-to-rural drift. There’s electricity here, there’s internet, and there’s water. If we invest in our rural areas, we can employ more people, reduce crime, and increase food production, all while boosting our economy.
Many young Nigerians don’t go into farming because they see it as laborious. However, with mechanized farming, it becomes less physically demanding. When there’s an incentive, you’d be surprised how many young people will jump at the opportunity. Beyond that, we need to focus on value addition and processing. In Nigeria, post-harvest losses are a significant problem. Between 30-40% of harvested produce like tomatoes, potatoes, and mangoes go to waste. If we can turn tomatoes into puree or process mangoes and oranges into juice, we would see tremendous progress. I once ate dried, peeled mango in Durban, long after the mango season. That’s the kind of innovation we need to adopt—adding value and creating export opportunities.
The issue of insecurity is another challenge. Many people are willing to farm, but insecurity stands in the way. Moreover, there’s the issue of communities putting unnecessary obstacles in the path of development. In some areas, people demand levies before any project can commence. In states like Delta, however, there’s a law against development levies, which helps investors and those who want to work without being harassed.
Strong leadership in our communities is key. Some communities, like Afrofuro where I’ve invested in real estate, enforce laws that protect investors. No one can disturb those who are building or developing. If they do, the community will take action against them. With strong leadership and the enforcement of laws, we can make our rural areas conducive for development.
Technology also has a role to play in addressing insecurity. In northern Nigeria, for example, flying a drone can easily spot bandits or kidnappers. Yet, we lack the seriousness and political will to implement such measures. Imagine a governor sitting with bandits to negotiate—this shows how unserious we are. We can track these individuals online, as they often flaunt their ill-gotten wealth on social media, but we simply don’t act.
As for who should manage large farms, I believe in public-private partnerships. We can follow the example of the Zimbabwean farmers who did well in Kwara State during Saraki’s era. Foreigners may not own land easily in Nigeria, but they can partner with local companies. States like Benue have some of the best soil for rice cultivation in West Africa. If we partner with experts from countries like China or Thailand, we could revolutionize our agricultural sector. The Chinese, for instance, have integrated rice farming with fish farming. The fish eat pests that harm the rice. Some even add ducks to the farm, creating a composite system that benefits everyone.
It’s heartening to see some Nigerian businesses and churches establishing farms. Omega Power Ministry has a farm, COZA has a farm, and the Anglican Church’s UMES also has farms. Churches, individuals, and multinationals can all play a part in this agricultural revolution.
Finally, remember my conference coming up on the 8th and 9th of November. If you want to become a person of influence, send a message to +234 802 121 9262, and they will send you the details.
We create these videos to educate, inform, and sometimes entertain you. No matter how much you travel, you can’t visit every part of the world. That’s why I take you with me on these journeys, like this trip to Romania. We travel together, and you learn more about the world.
Thank you, and until next time, I remain your friend,
Dr. Charles Apoki
