Vice President Kashim Shettima declared on Wednesday that Nigeria shouldn't tolerate poverty, speaking at the agriculture development investment summit in Abuja. He challenged Nigerians to harness the country's vast natural resources and transform them into wealth.
Shettima highlighted Indonesia's success with palm oil production as a wake-up call for Nigeria. "Indonesia earned 25 billion dollars from 53 tons of crude palm oil in 2025, generating more revenue than Nigeria made from oil with just 50 percent of what they earned," he said.
The vice president stressed that Nigeria produces crude oil but has failed to diversify its revenue streams like Indonesia has done. He pointed out that the Niger Delta, the world's third largest delta, sits on untapped aquaculture potential.
According to him, fish farming opportunities abound in the region. "The Delta is endowed with resources for salmon, tuna, lobsters, and other marine life," Shettima noted.
He argued that Nigeria possesses the ingredients to become one of the world's richest nations. "We have no business being poor — we have the potential to be one of the richest countries in the world," the vice president told the gathering.
Shettima expressed confidence that certain regions across the country could generate tremendous wealth through proper investment and development. He called on stakeholders to unlock Nigeria's economic potential through agriculture and allied sectors rather than relying solely on crude oil exports.
