The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has said Nigeria’s economic and agricultural challenges stem largely from frequent policy changes and lack of continuity between successive administrations.
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Sanusi made the observation during a joint meeting of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), held alongside the Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja.
He noted that one of the country’s greatest weaknesses is the absence of policy continuity, stressing that new administrations often discard existing development plans and start afresh. According to him, this trend has led to the constant recycling of the same problems without sustainable solutions.
Sanusi also faulted the civil service for failing to maintain institutional memory, which he said worsens the cycle of inconsistency in governance and planning.
On agricultural development, the former Central Bank governor underscored the need to strengthen agricultural value chains to attract private investment rather than depend solely on government funding. He pointed to the tomato value chain initiative in Kano as a project that held great promise but was abandoned due to outdated regulations and lack of follow-up.
He urged the government to create a stable policy environment that would encourage private sector participation, arguing that the government alone cannot address the challenges faced by farmers.
Sanusi further advised policymakers to adopt long-term strategies aligned with national development goals to address poverty, insecurity, and unemployment, particularly in northern Nigeria. He cautioned against frequent policy reversals such as lifting food import restrictions, warning that such actions could discourage local investors and plunge farmers into debt.
