RETHINKING RESOURCE CONTROL: WHAT HAVE NIGERIAN STATES DONE WITH AGRICULTURE, A RESOURCE UNDER THEIR CONTROL FOR DECADES?
By Tunde Aina.
As the debate over resource control and revenue allocation continues to dominate Nigeria’s political and economic landscape, one crucial question remains largely unaddressed: What have Nigerian states done with agriculture – a resource that has been under their control for decades?
While oil revenue has been the focal point of discussions on resource control, agriculture remains the one major economic sector fully under state jurisdiction. Yet, despite the vast arable land, favorable climate, and historical dominance of agriculture in Nigeria’s economy, most states have failed to harness this resource for economic independence and food security.
Nigeria was once a global agricultural powerhouse, leading in the export of cocoa, groundnuts, palm oil, and rubber. However, in recent decades, many state governments have neglected agricultural investment, leaving large portions of farmland uncultivated while depending on federal allocations derived from crude oil. This has contributed to:
• Rising food insecurity and inflation due to over-reliance on food imports.
• Unemployment and rural poverty as farming communities lack modern infrastructure and investment.
• Banditry and insecurity as vast uncultivated lands become hideouts for criminal activities.
• Failure to diversify the economy, leaving states financially dependent on federal allocations.
The Call for Accountability and Innovation
The New Nigerian Dream Symposium in Abuja calls on state governments to rethink their approach to resource control by prioritizing agriculture as a key driver of economic growth. If properly harnessed, agriculture has the potential to:
• Generate millions of jobs across the agricultural value chain.
• Reduce food imports and strengthen national food security.
• Boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and reduce dependency on federal allocations.
• Attract local and foreign investment in agribusiness, processing, and exports.
• Restore Nigeria’s global leadership in key agricultural commodities.
A New Approach to Resource Control
Rather than focusing solely on oil revenue-sharing, Nigerian states must take responsibility for the resources already within their control. Agriculture represents a sustainable, renewable, and wealth-generating sector that, if properly developed, can serve as a model for true resource control and economic independence.
The question remains: If states have struggled to manage agriculture effectively, how prepared are they to control mineral resources and other national wealth?
The New Nigerian Dream Symposium urges policy makers, private sector players, and civil society groups to push for a renewed agricultural revolution in Nigeria, ensuring that resource control translates to real economic empowerment and development for all.
● Mr. Aina, the Convener of the New Nigeria Dreams Symposium can be reache at.newnigeriandream24@gmail.com. He sent this via WhatsApp.
