Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has identified a lack of continuity and policy somersault as one of the major hindrances to achieving food security in Africa and the continent’s overall development.
Obasanjo asked the government to stay away from getting involved in the production business and provide an environment that would enable the private sector to drive the country’s economy.
The former President disclosed that the hunger crisis facing Nigeria and Africa at large would not have been worse if the ‘culture of continuity in developmental and food production efforts had been sustained’.
Obasanjo stated this on Thursday at the unveiling of Okun Rice, held at Asero, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He said it was bad that successive governments do not encourage the culture of continuity, noting that such practice has significantly impacted food production and agricultural practices in the country
The former President said “Part of our problems in Nigeria and Africa as a whole is lack of continuity and this is very bad for every development at family level, state level, national level and continental.
“What I found so ridiculous is that because there has been no continuity in so many things we are doing, you will hear people saying ‘for the first time as if Nigeria is just beginning today, whereas the problem is lack of continuity.
“When you go back, you will find out that some people have done what they are talking about in the past and if we had continued, our situation wouldn’t have been as bad as it is, particularly in the area of food production.
“I have always said government has no business in production, the primary duty of the government is to provide the enabling environment for agricultural production and other business enterprises to thrive so as to achieve food security.
“So, I am saying that for us to achieve increased food production and achieve food sufficiency at the state, national and continental levels, the government must be ready to provide the enabling environment and ensure continuity of assisted agricultural policies to enhance food production”.
Obasanjo lauded the Chief Executive Officer of Hyst Global Business Limited, Dr Biodun Onalaja for his courage and perseverance, hailing him for bracing all odds to invest in local production of rice and boosting food sufficiency in the country.
In his remarks, Onalaja said the rice mill could produce 100 metric tonnes of high-quality rice daily in various packing options from 1kg to 50kg.