Vice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigeria has no reason to remain poor, stressing that the country’s abundant natural resources and economic potential could make it one of the richest nations in the world if properly harnessed.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Agric, Development and Investment Summit in Abuja, Shettima pointed to Indonesia as an example of how strategic investment in agriculture can generate massive wealth. He said Indonesia earned about $25 billion from 53 million tons of crude palm oil exports in 2025, even while exporting only 32 million tons.
According to the Vice President, Indonesia’s palm oil revenue exceeded Nigeria’s earnings from crude oil exports. “Indonesia is an oil-producing nation, but in 2025 it earned 25 billion dollars from crude palm oil while exporting only 32 million tons. Its revenue exceeded Nigeria’s oil revenue with just about 50 per cent of what Indonesia earned from oil palm exports,” he stated.
Shettima also highlighted the economic potential in the Niger Delta, describing it as the world’s third-largest delta. He said the region is endowed with enormous potential for mariculture, including fish farming and the cultivation of species such as salmon, tuna, and lobsters. “The Niger Delta is the third largest delta in the world, and what do people in mariculture do? Fish farming like salmon, tuna, lobsters, and the Delta is endowed with those resources,” he said.
The Vice President maintained that Nigeria’s agricultural and marine resources, if effectively developed, could transform the nation’s economy and improve the livelihoods of citizens. He urged investors and policymakers to focus on sectors where Nigeria has natural advantages.
Shettima concluded that with the right investments, Nigeria could unlock tremendous wealth. “In this great nation of ours, we have no business being poor. We have the potential to be one of the richest countries in the world. There are certain parts of this country where money can grow; you can plant money and harvest tremendous money resources,” he added.