Ukraine, a nation embroiled in a brutal war with Russia, has extended a helping hand to Nigeria, a country facing its own crisis of hunger and food insecurity through the donation of tons of food grains.
However, the donation of tons of grains from the war-torn nation has sparked both gratitude and criticism from Nigerian politicians and citizens alike.
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general elections, has been particularly vocal in his criticism of Nigeria’s reliance on foreign aid, especially from a nation undergoing significant turmoil. In a statement shared on his official social media handle, Obi lamented what he termed a “national disgrace” and highlighted the failure of Nigerian leadership to ensure food security for its citizens.
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“It’s disheartening that our once economically confident nation, blessed with vast arable land and abundant natural resources, now relies on a war-torn Ukraine for food assistance,” Obi expressed in his statement.
The former vice-presidential candidate went on to commend Ukraine for its generosity while simultaneously condemning the leadership failures that have led Nigeria to this point. He emphasized the need for strong political leadership and a reevaluation of national priorities to address the root causes of the country’s dependence on foreign aid.
“The situation underscores vigorously the importance of sound political leadership as the first concrete requirement for any nation desiring to develop and enhance the standard of living of its citizenry,” Obi remarked.
Obi’s criticism is grounded in stark statistics comparing the two nations’ economic and agricultural capabilities. Despite the conflict, Ukraine has managed to maintain its agricultural productivity and even surpass Nigeria in terms of GDP per capita growth.
“Instructively, Ukraine, with a population of 43 million on 603,728 km2, outshines Northern Nigeria, covering 744,249 km2 with a young, energetic population exceeding 100 million,” Obi noted. “Ukraine cultivates over 60% of its arable land, whereas Nigeria has over 60% uncultivated arable land.”
The contrast in economic performance is glaring, with Ukraine’s GDP per capita exceeding $4000 by 2022, while Nigeria’s regressed to $2184 during the same period. Ukraine’s ability to feed itself and export agricultural products worth over $25 billion underscores the missed opportunities and mismanagement plaguing Nigeria’s agricultural sector, he noted.
To address this embarrassment and achieve self-sufficiency, Obi called for urgent action to prioritize investments in agriculture, tackle insecurity to enable farming activities and support small businesses to drive economic growth.
“In 4 to 5 years, this concerted effort can reverse the current trend, leading us toward a productive and New Nigeria that I believe is possible and within reach,” Obi asserted.
Nigeria is to receive 25,000 tons of wheat from the Government of Ukraine to provide emergency food assistance to 1.3 million crisis-affected people in the West African country.