Metro
Obasanjo Blames Rice Import Woes on Shagari-era Policy U-turn
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has blamed Nigeria’s long-standing dependence on rice imports on the decision by the civilian administration in 1979 to lift a ban imposed by the outgoing military government, saying the policy reversal set the country back by decades.
Obasanjo made the remarks on Thursday in Abuja at the International Memorial Lecture and Leadership Conference marking the 50th anniversary of the assassination of former Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed.
The memorial lecture focused on General Muhammed’s defining “Africa Has Come of Age” address delivered at the Organisation of African Unity Summit in Addis Ababa.
Obasanjo was the military Head of State who handed over power to Alhaji Shehu Shagari, democratically elected President of the Second Republic.
Recounting events at the end of military rule in 1979, Obasanjo said his government had been on the verge of achieving self-sufficiency in rice production for Nigeria before handing it over to civilians.
“By the time we left in July 1979, we wanted to be self-sufficient in rice production. We asked that a report be prepared on what was in the fields. The report showed that we would be self-sufficient that year,” he said.
Based on the findings, Obasanjo explained, his administration banned the importation of rice before leaving office in October 1979.
“When the civilian administration came in, one of the first things they did was to lift the ban on rice importation so they could allocate import licences to their supporters and political associates,” he added.
Obasanjo cited what he described as a notorious case of abuse involving a politically connected importer who inflated the cost of a rice contract in order to extract kickbacks.
“Let me give you an example. One of the barons who obtained a rice import licence from America ordered rice and then asked the suppliers to add $5 million to the cost. They did. They added the $5 million and supplied the rice. He then went back to New York and demanded $2.5 million out of the $5 million. They refused and gave him only $1 million. He reported the matter to the Nigerian embassy and to the Nigerian representative at the UN, who contacted the suppliers. The suppliers said they did not understand what the issue was.
“Eventually, the suppliers explained that the man had asked them to add $5 million to the cost and that, without doing so, they would have lost the contract. They took the risk and secured the deal. He wanted $2.5 million but had taken no risk, so they gave him $1 million.
“The ambassador said he felt like digging a hole and sinking into it. That was your country,” he said.
The former head of state added: “Since the lifting of the rice import ban in 1979, we have not recovered from it. That is why we are still importing rice today. These are the kinds of things that go wrong, and then we ask whether Africa has come of age. I wonder.”
Obasanjo argued that Nigeria’s inability to sustain sound policies was a major reason both the country and the continent had struggled to “come of age”.
Turning to the economy, he lamented that Nigeria had lost ground over the years despite earlier progress.
“There was a time when Nigeria ranked 37th among the economies of the world. If we had continued at that rate for 20 years, we would by now have been among the top ten. Today, I don’t even know where we stand,” he said.
He urged African leaders to focus on reform and production as the pathway to growth.
“What we need to do is reform and produce. Reform and produce,” he stressed.
Obasanjo emphasised that for Africa to come of age, it must record annual GDP growth of nine to ten per cent.
“We have done something like that before, and we can do it again. When we do, Africa will truly come of age,” he said.
Using agriculture as an example, Obasanjo said cocoa output tripled during his elected presidency but has since declined.
“When I became president, cocoa production in Nigeria was 150,000 metric tonnes. We introduced a new system to boost production, and within four to five years, we were producing 450,000 metric tonnes. We tripled output. President Kufuor once joked that Nigeria, as an oil-producing country, should leave cocoa to them. I told him we would produce cocoa while also producing oil.
“Today, I understand we are producing no more than 300,000 metric tonnes. We have gone backwards. That is not how Africa will come of age,” he said.
Beyond the economy, Obasanjo reflected on leadership, governance and the legacy of General Murtala Muhammed, whom he described as patriotic, disciplined and committed to national service.
“The greatest achievement of Murtala, in my view, was that he created a successor who could continue after him. The failure of all leaders after Murtala, including myself, is that we have not been able to create successors who could go on after us,” he said.
Obasanjo’s military government favoured “Austerity Measures” and “Operation Feed the Nation” to promote self-sufficiency.
Shagari’s civilian administration, however, faced immense pressure to satisfy a populace eager for consumer goods, leading to the “Rice Memo” and the liberalisation of imports that Obasanjo is criticising.
President Bola Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on his 89th birthday.
Tinubu rejoiced with the elder statesman, describing his influence in Nigeria, Africa and globally as significant.
The President’s message is contained in a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Tinubu noted Obasanjo’s courage and sacrifices in service to the nation.
He recalled that Obasanjo served as military Head of State from 1976 to 1979 and handed over power to a civilian administration in 1979.
The president also highlighted his tenure as Nigeria’s first civilian leader in the Fourth Republic from 1999 to 2007.
Tinubu affirmed the former leader’s historic roles, including fighting to preserve Nigeria’s unity and advocating democracy.
He also acknowledged Obasanjo’s time in prison for opposing military rule and his efforts in advancing Africa’s political and economic interests.
“As Chief Obasanjo turns 89, we recognise the zeal and wisdom he continues to bring to Nigeria’s development,” the President said.
Tinubu commended the former president’s intellectual contributions through books and public interventions.
He prayed for more years of good health, strength and wisdom for Obasanjo as he continued to serve the nation and humanity.
The Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar has called for the implementation of existing laws in the country by security agencies and other stakeholders to curb the proliferation of small arms.
Abubakar made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during a consultative meeting on strengthening Nigeria implementation of the UN Programme of Action and International Tracing Instrument ahead of the 2026 Biennal Meeting of States.
The meeting was organised by the West African Action Network on Small Arms (WAANSA).
The theme of the meeting is “Ehancing National Coordination, Data Reporting and Civil Society-Government Engagement on Small Arms Control in Nigeria”.
The Etsu Nupe said the meeting was to show that relevant stakeholders had significant roles to play in the proliferation of small arms in the country.
He said the increasing rate of small arms possession by those not entitled in the country had become a source of worry, adding that there was a need to address the trend.
He also said that the increasing rate of illegal possession of the weapons was dangerous and could lead to disaster if not controlled.
He pledged the commitment of the traditional institutions to support the law enforcement agencies in the implementation of laws to control small arms possession in the country.
In his remark, Martins Igwe, the Regional Vice President, WAANSA, said the decisions reached at the meeting would be advanced to international action to complement their efforts.
He blamed the challenges of small arms proliferation in the country on lack of political will to implement some of the existing laws.
He said that one of the decisions reached at the meeting was to integrate the traditional institutions into the campaign against small arms proliferation.
Igwe said the traditional rulers would be integrated considering their roles as the custodians of the local community.
In his keynote address, Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of ECOWAS said illicit arms and light weapons were threats to security, development, governance and human dignity.
Musah, represented by Joseph Ahoba, the Director, Small Arms Unit, Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department of ECOWAS said every weapon moved from illicit circulation represented lives protected and communities stabilised.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), through its subsidiary, the Niger Electricity Distribution Company (NEDC), will collaborate with the Niger Government to deploy solar mini-grids and other renewable energy solutions.
Omede Odekina, Brand Marketing and Corporate Communications, NEDC stated this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
Odekina said that NEDC welcomed the commendable efforts of the Niger government, under the leadership of Gov.
Mohammed Bago, to deploy solar mini-grids and renewable energy solutions to previously unserved and underserved communities across the state.He noted that the initiatives included the provision of reliable 24-hour solar power to over 180 communities that had experienced little or no meaningful electricity supply for more than a decade.
““This also covers the transition of critical public facilities—such as the Government House, hospitals including the General Hospital and IBB Specialist Hospital, the Niger State Water Board, and other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, to independent solar systems.
“This move represents a significant step forward in addressing long-standing energy access challenges,” he said.
AEDC Managing Director, Chijioke Okwuokenye, added, “We fully support the Niger government’s proactive approach to expanding access to reliable electricity through renewable energy solutions.”
”These efforts complement the national push for decentralised power under the Electricity Act 2023 and demonstrate how collaboration between government, regulators, and licensed operators can accelerate progress for our customers,” he said.
Sam Odekina, Chief Business Officer and Acting Managing Director of NEDC, said that the deployment of solar mini-grids in previously unserved areas aligned perfectly with the company’s shared goal of inclusive electrification.
“As the licensed intrastate distributor under the Niger State Electricity Regulatory Commission (NSERC), NEDC is eager to partner closely with the state government on hybrid solutions and grid integration where feasible.
“The company is also committed to supporting innovative projects that deliver sustainable benefits to residents, businesses, and institutions alike.
”The NEDC fully recognises that these actions align with the decentralised and multi-source electricity framework established by the Electricity Act 2023, the establishment of the NSERC, and the ongoing domestication of relevant regulations within Niger,” he said.
Odekina said that the deployment of solar mini-grids in areas such as Lambata in Gurara Local Government Area was being supported through partnerships, including those with the Rural Electrification Agency and international donors.
He said these complemented national efforts to expand renewable energy access and reduce reliance on traditional grid extensions where they were not yet viable.
According to him, NEDC remains fully committed to working collaboratively with the Niger government, the NSERC, and all relevant stakeholders to deliver reliable, sustainable, and inclusive electricity supply throughout the state.
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