Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged African governments to prioritize sustained policy continuity to address food security issues, lamenting that frequent policy changes have hindered progress in development and food production across the continent. He made these remarks at the inauguration of Okun Rice Mills in Asero, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo stressed that the current hunger crisis in Nigeria and Africa could have been averted if developmental and food production policies had been consistently upheld. He observed, “The problem in Nigeria and Africa as a whole is lack of continuity… you will hear people saying ‘for the first time ever’ as if Nigeria is just beginning today, whereas the issue is lack of continuity.”
Obasanjo underscored the government’s primary role in fostering an enabling environment for agricultural and business enterprises to achieve food security, rather than directly engaging in production. He called for sustained support of agricultural policies to boost food production and ensure food sufficiency at the local, national, and continental levels.
Commending Dr. Biodun Onalaja, CEO of Hyst Global Business Limited, for his resilience in promoting local rice production, Obasanjo urged him to collaborate with local farmers by sourcing paddy rice from them to support the rice industry.
Dr. Onalaja, in his welcome address, praised Obasanjo’s longstanding commitment to advancing food production, acknowledging the former president’s guidance and support as a vital source of encouragement.