Olusegun Adeyemo
An agricultural expert, Mr. Victor Adebiyi, has expressed deep skepticism over the Bola Tinubu-led administration’s plans to establish agro-hub zones across states, describing the initiative as “semantic” and lacking in genuine intent.
Speaking in a telephone interview with The Journal Nigeria correspondent, Mr. Adebiyi said that despite the administration’s public declarations about improving food sufficiency, food processing, and creating job opportunities, the prevailing corruption and lack of accountability render such plans ineffective.
“Effectively, the corruption surrounding this administration would not allow them to do what is right, in the right portion, and in the right places at the right time,” Adebiyi stated. “Because the motive behind most of these plans is not trustworthy, people don’t have confidence. We can only wait.”
Citing Oyo State as an example, he noted that while there have been discussions around agricultural hubs, there is little to show in terms of tangible outcomes. “We have heard the talk, but we’ve not seen the will. We’ve not seen the tyre hit the road. Food and animal production are yet to reflect in our markets or in food prices,” he said.
Adebiyi criticized the government’s agricultural promises as “mere stories and rhetoric,” adding that he no longer trusts the administration’s offerings to ordinary Nigerians. “I wish good luck to those who still believe everything the President says,” he added wryly.
The expert stressed that achieving food sufficiency is not complicated if the right materials, equipment, and environment are provided. However, he pointed out the administration’s silence on persistent issues like herdsmen attacks, farmer kidnappings, and insecurity in rural areas.
Taking a sharp turn, Adebiyi referenced the Ghanaian president’s bold stance on cattle roaming in urban areas. “The president of Ghana reportedly said that if a cow is seen roaming in the street, the people should gather, kill it, and cook it.
That’s a bold step,” he remarked. “Creating a ministry of livestock or hubs is not enough. We need practical support for local farmers—equipment and subsidies.”
He concluded by recalling historical agricultural policies like Operation Feed the Nation under former President Olusegun Obasanjo and efforts by the late Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who he said provided heavy farming equipment to support rural farmers. “Those were meaningful interventions—not buzzwords or political gimmicks,” he said.