Nigerians are debating your open letter to President Tinubu for a N12 billion loan. They say that your idea is laudable but it is not practicable for one man to handle such a humongous amount alone on a project that requires expertise from multiple fields. What is your reaction?
No one has monopoly of knowledge or wisdom. Nigeria no doubt is endowed with great and sophisticated human resources. All we need do is the effective mobilization and motivation of the labour force so as to achieve desired goals. It is my dream and I will see it through by God’s grace. We often say that great brains are in the grave. Let’s use the ones we have now.
The argument stemmed from the notion that, for a person to ask for funding for such a huge project, the person must have a proven track record of successfully handling similar projects before. Would you like to share your past project experience?
This is where we get all wrong. Track record is not the only criterion, what is needed is the vision and visioner and the work force properly mobilised. I may not have the track record they talk about. In Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State, we have an ongoing project, known as the Sapele Smart City. Feel free to verify from the Honourable Commissioner, ministry of housing, Asaba, Delta State.
If you had your way with funding, how do you plan to navigate the complex array of factors that challenge the success of agricultural projects, like environmental issues, socio-economic barriers, market instability and, particularly, insecurity?
Talking about complexity in agricultural practices, you will agree with me, that some of the problems are man-made which can be handled with good intention. The length and breadth of this country, we have green vegetation, enabled with water resources, all through the year. We need a new orientation. I wonder why we keep talking about market instability. Nigeria’s population estimated at 200million, about 100 million will eat average of ₦2000 daily. This will amount to ₦ 200,000 000 000 (two hundred billion naira) on a daily basis. A nation that cannot feed herself will always be in bondage, if a wise investor gets 3% of that every day, the ultimate gain will be prosperity for all. When a people is highly organised and motivated with a great determination, even the devil will be scared.
