Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has stated that Nigeria’s major problem is the inability to maintain its policies.
He pointed out that the lack of continuity has been one of the main obstacles to attaining food security and other goals on the African continent.
Obasanjo argued that the government has no business in production, adding that the duty of the government is to provide an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
He stated this at the unveiling of Okun Rice Mills at Asero, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, on Thursday evening.
He maintained that to achieve increased food production and sufficiency at the state, national and continental levels, the government must be ready to provide an enabling environment and ensure the continuity of assisted agricultural policies.
According to him, “Part of our problem 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 ever” 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 that which 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 that 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 at continental level, the government must be ready to provide the enabling environment and ensure continuity of assisted agric policies to enhance food production”.
