Professor Kennedy Opara, former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) and current Chairman of CSSP Farm, has attributed the persistent depreciation of the naira to Nigeria’s overwhelming reliance on imported goods. Speaking to journalists, Prof Opara stressed that unless Nigeria significantly reduces its import volume and boosts local production—particularly in agriculture—the naira will remain weak against foreign currencies.
Opara emphasized that the key to revitalizing the economy lies in empowering and equipping Nigerian youths through comprehensive agricultural training and mechanization. According to him, Nigeria’s vast land resources remain underutilized due to lack of government investment in agriculture and poor support for local farmers. He maintained that developing domestic food production would not only reduce importation but also strengthen the naira by increasing export earnings.
The professor warned that continued neglect of youth employment and agricultural empowerment would exacerbate insecurity. Idle youths, he argued, are more likely to turn to crime as a means of survival. By contrast, structured training and farming opportunities would productively engage them and contribute to national development. “Without employment, there will be constant insecurity,” he said.
He pointed out that states like Niger have enormous untapped land resources—7.6 million hectares, more than triple the size of Israel—which could be harnessed for agricultural purposes. Opara urged the federal government to partner with states to allocate land and train unemployed youths in large numbers, supplying them with the necessary inputs to begin production. Such efforts, he said, could lead to substantial food exports and economic growth.
Prof Opara concluded by asserting that reversing the trade imbalance—where imports outstrip exports—is essential to stabilizing the naira. He called on the government to be deliberate and strategic in agricultural investment, adding that discovering and pursuing a national economic vision, rooted in self-reliance, is the only sustainable path forward.
Source: The sun