60% Of Nigeria’s Arable Land Is Not Being Farmed, Obi Will Change That – NDC Spokesperson

According to Channels TV on Sunday November 15 2026, the campaign spokesperson for the Obi-Kwankwaso National Campaign Council, Constance Ikokwu, spoke on Hard Copy about agriculture, jobs, and why Nigeria must move from consumption to production.

“You hear the APC say that they want to build a country that will be a 3 trillion dollar economy by 2030. You cannot achieve that if you do not have a productive economy. So Mr. Peter Obi wants to create jobs. Sixty percent of the arable land in Nigeria for agriculture is not being farmed or is underutilized. This is something he is very passionate about, and he will definitely get that going.”

Ikokwu argued that no country can become a major economy without producing what it consumes. For Nigeria, she said, the failure to use available farmland is one of the biggest missed opportunities in the nation’s development story.

The spokesperson explained that large portions of fertile land remain idle, while millions of Nigerians depend on imported food. That dependence, in her view, weakens the naira, increases food prices, and leaves the country vulnerable to global shocks.

She linked agriculture directly to employment. If farmlands are cultivated, processing industries are built, and value chains are developed, young people in rural and urban areas can find meaningful work instead of roaming the streets.

Ikokwu described Obi’s passion for agriculture as practical, not political. She said his focus is on turning land into wealth through mechanised farming, support for farmers, and policies that encourage local production over importation.

Her message also challenged the ruling party’s economic target. A 3 trillion dollar economy by 2030, she argued, cannot be achieved with speeches alone. It requires factories, farms, and a workforce that is actively producing goods and services.

She noted that Nigeria’s current structure rewards consumption. People buy foreign products, government spends heavily on imports, and local producers struggle to compete. That model, according to Ikokwu, must change.

The vision presented on Hard Copy was therefore about rebuilding the foundation of the economy. By using the 60 percent of arable land that is underutilized, Nigeria can feed itself, create jobs, and reduce poverty in a sustainable way.

In her conclusion, Ikokwu urged Nigerians to judge leaders by their plans for production. A government that invests in agriculture and job creation, she said, will do more for the country than one that relies on borrowing and consumption.

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