The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has pledged to use agriculture as a major tool to tackle poverty and create economic opportunities in Northern Nigeria if elected president in 2027.
Obi made the promise during an interview with ARISE News on Thursday while explaining why he opposed calls for the restoration of fuel subsidy. He argued that returning to fuel subsidy would not address the structural causes of poverty in the North.
According to the former Anambra State governor, Northern Nigeria possesses a major economic asset in agriculture, which he said should be developed through deliberate government investment.
“If there’s one president the North will celebrate, it’s me,” Obi said, adding that he would address poverty in the region in a way that would be visible to Nigerians and done without corruption.
He said his administration would invest in agriculture and use the sector to support poor Nigerians through improved access to education, healthcare and skills development. He also pledged to strengthen other areas of the economy to create sustainable opportunities for residents of the region.
Obi further promised to revive manufacturing activities in Northern cities, particularly Kano, where he said several factories in areas such as Bompai and Sharada had shut down.
He maintained that the economic challenges facing Northern Nigeria could not be attributed solely to the removal of fuel subsidy, arguing that broader interventions were required to tackle poverty and improve living standards.
On the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Obi criticised its performance in areas including literacy, transparency and public spending. He described some government expenditure as reckless and questioned the administration’s management of the economy.
Obi’s comments come as political parties and presidential hopefuls intensify their campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections, with economic hardship, insecurity, food production and the cost of living expected to remain major issues in the contest.
