Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has decried the persistence of hunger and poverty across Africa, insisting that the continent has no justification for such conditions given its abundant natural resources.
Obi made the remarks during a visit to media mogul Dele Momodu at his Lagos residence, as part of celebrations marking Momodu’s 65th birthday. The visit came ahead of a leadership lecture themed “How to End Hunger and Poverty in Africa”, to be delivered by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, with former President Goodluck Jonathan as guest of honour.
In a post shared via his official handle on X (formerly Twitter), Obi expressed deep concern over Africa’s food insecurity, calling it a paradox in a land blessed with vast agricultural potential.
“Africa should have nothing to do with hunger but should actually be a powerhouse for the supply of food in the world,” Obi stated.
He highlighted the continent’s untapped agricultural capacity, citing global statistics to underscore the scale of underperformance. “Africa’s rice production is about 26 million tonnes, while Bangladesh with less than 0.5% of Africa’s land produces over 55 million tonnes. India, with just about 10% of Africa’s size, produces five times more rice than Africa,” Obi said.
He called for a transformative approach to governance and economic development, emphasizing that increased food production and the establishment of agro-industries are vital to addressing both hunger and unemployment.
“All Africa needs is citizen-led governance that prioritises the welfare of its people by investing in critical areas of development,” Obi added.
The leadership lecture, part of Momodu’s birthday programme, is expected to spark conversations around actionable strategies to unlock Africa’s economic and agricultural potential.