Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has attributed the surge in banditry and kidnapping to the prevailing unemployment crisis in the country.
Speaking at the 9th International Trade Exhibition & Conference on Agrofood, Plastics, Printing, and Packaging in Lagos, Obasanjo noted the need for urgent measures to address unemployment, which he sees as a major driver of criminal activities.
Stating the importance of agribusiness for enhancing food security and creating employment opportunities, Obasanjo stressed the necessity of engaging young people in agriculture to curb youth emigration and insecurity.
He also called for policy consistency and the provision of single-digit loans to farmers to ensure sustainable agricultural development.
In response to Obasanjo’s remarks, stakeholders at the event validated the significance of investing in cold chain infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance food security in Nigeria.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, expressed concern over the high rate of post-harvest losses in the country and amplified the need to improve cold chain networks to safeguard agricultural produce.
The ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Wouter Plomp, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in achieving food security and promoting agricultural development.