Nigeria
a country blessed and richly endowed with vast natural and human resources, so
sufficient for her development, yet remain in a state of under-development.
Prior to independence in 1960, Nigeria was a agrarian economy. Agriculture
contributing over 75% of her export earning, as well as contributing over 60%
to her gross domestic product. With the discovery of crude oil in commercial
quantity in early 1970’s in conjunction of rising of oil price in the
international market, agricultural sector was giving lesser concern leading to
its decline.
Enough revenue beyond the expectation of the government enters
into the coffer of the government, hence, increasing its expenditure. Between
1974-1975, there was aggressive drive by the Nigeria leadership to use the
revenue accruing from oil to tackle the problems of underdevelopment in the
country. Sadly, policy makers failed in the process of implementation which
ultimately debarred the country to achieve the stated goals (Richard,
1978:222).
The
government of Nigeria has developed and embarked on a number of programs to
ensure food increase in the country, thereby stimulating the agricultural
sector of the economy to its full potential; such policy includes operation
feed the nation of Obasanjo’s in 1976, River basin which was incorporated to
implement and ensure the success of OFN. Others include Green revolution of
Buhari etc. Despite, this whole effort made by government, agricultural sector
has been experiencing declining in output (Noko 2012).
This
led to the importation of food, which further wreaked serious havocs on
agriculture when full exploitation of oil resumed in earnest and consequently,
“the government could think of no other alternative than to mortgage of the
country’s economic future to the good behaviour and concordance of the
multinational and local capitalist” (Richard, 1978, 224).
An
analysis of government past effort and program towards agriculture will reveal
this better. Successive governments have been battling to stern the incidence
of poverty and hunger, and then associated problems. The military regime of
General Yakubu Gowon (1966-1975) launched the National accelerated food
production program (NAFPP) in 1972 but with no tangible result. It has
intention of stemming deterioration in the agricultural sector that the
government initiated policies that would encourage productivity because
agriculture is still an important sector of the Nigeria economy.
In
1976, the military government of Obasanjo initiated operation feed the nation
(OFN) program and the development of the rural areas. However, OFN is also
colossal failure and waste of money as its predecessor i.e. NAFPP, it is in
this connection that it is important to highlight these unsatisfactory results
related to the mentality associated with what is known in the Nigeria Parlance,
as “quick returns”. The civilian government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari (1979-1983)
initiated the Green revolution program with the objectives of the raising cost
of importation and increase in agricultural sector. The green revolution
benefited only corrupt politicians and arm chair bureaucratic/ farmers and
urban dwellers to the disadvantages of the teeming population of genuine
farmers who could have the necessary turn around in the poverty reduction
drive.
Furthermore,
the Babaginda regime discovered that the key solution to the problem of Nigeria
poverty is to transform the economy, this led to the adoption of structural
Adjustment Program by September 1986. SAP which is a policy adopted under the
prescription of the world bank (IMF) to developing countries as the key element
to accelerate economic development in the various countries. Other agricultural
programs adopted include Directorate of Food, Road and Rural Infrastructure
(DFRRI) and National Directorate of |Employment (NDE).
However,
all these programs adopted by the head of states, so far has not really
impacted much on the economy, this is due to culminated corruption that is
rampant in Nigeria. Nigeria presidents have had countless number of programs
aimed at alleviating poverty. This programs mostly failed because of
corruption, lack of human capacity, inadequate management and implementation of
these programs(Noko, 2011). The failure of these programs is due to lack of
policy implementation and abandonment of project of successive government by
new government. Among the leading programs adopted by the government to improve
the living standards of Nigerians include; Rolling plan, National Economic
Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS), 7- Point Agenda, Vision 2010, Vision
20:2020.