According to Vice President Kashim Shettima, Nigeria has no reason to stay impoverished because, with proper development, its abundant natural resources and economic potential could place it among the world’s wealthiest countries.
During her keynote speech at the Agric, Development, and Investment Summit in Abuja on Wednesday, Shettima made these statements.
As an illustration of how strategic agricultural investment can produce significant national wealth, he pointed to Indonesia’s success in the oil palm industry. Despite being an oil-producing nation, Indonesia earned approximately $25 billion from crude palm oil exports in 2025, surpassing Nigeria’s earnings from crude oil.
He clarified that although Indonesia only exported 32 million of the 53 million tonnes of crude palm oil produced that year, it still made more money than Nigeria, even though Nigeria’s total oil revenue was only roughly half of what Indonesia made from its palm oil exports alone.
Shettima also highlighted the Niger Delta’s economic potential, characterizing it as the third-largest delta in the world with substantial mariculture opportunities, including the farming of fish species like salmon, tuna, and lobster, which he claimed the area is naturally endowed with.
He insisted that Nigeria’s agricultural and marine resources could revolutionize the country’s economy and raise the standard of living for its people if they were properly utilized.
If Shettima boldly states that Nigeria has no business being poor, then the question remains: why are we still struggling? Why do many Nigerians find it difficult to put food on the table? Why are the costs of essentials so high that many cannot keep up? These realities highlight a disconnect between rhetoric and reality. It is a clear call to the government that urgent action is needed.
Nigerians deserve policies and initiatives that will make life easier, more affordable, and provide real opportunities for growth. It’s time for concrete change to turn words into meaningful progress.
