Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has described Nigeria’s northern region as the nation’s “greatest asset,” asserting it holds the key to the country’s development.
Speaking on Sunday at a meeting of the National Political Consultative Group (North) in Abuja, Obi lamented the persistent poverty in the region, attributing it to chronic underinvestment in critical sectors such as education and agriculture.
“The greatest asset of this country is the North. I’ve always said it. The North can change Nigeria,” Obi stated.
He highlighted the region’s vast agricultural potential, arguing it could surpass the oil sector in revenue generation if properly harnessed. Citing rice production as a case in point, Obi noted that Nigeria’s output remains significantly low compared to countries with smaller landmass.
“This entire country produces less than six million tonnes of rice. That’s less than 10 percent of what Bangladesh produces,” he said. “Bangladesh has just 148,600 square kilometers—about the size of Niger and Borno states combined.
