By Ify Mgbemena
The founder of ABX World, Captain John, has warned that Nigeria risks being left behind as other African countries strengthen their agribusiness structures ahead of full African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation.
Speaking with AgroNigeria during an exclusive interview, on Saturday, Captain John stated that despite Nigeria’s wealth of agricultural resources, the country is “not even competing.”
He stressed that while Nigerians possess theoretical knowledge of modern agriculture, poor implementation and a culture of shortcuts keep the nation from achieving meaningful results.
He noted that many industry players expect success without building proper structures, likening the situation to someone attempting to erect a skyscraper “from the roof instead of the foundation.”
According to him, this approach hinders compliance with global standards like Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), traceability, and quality assurance.
Captain John further highlighted inefficiencies that inflate Nigeria’s cost of production and render its produce uncompetitive.
A product valued at $2 internationally, he explained, could rise to $5 once exported from Nigeria due to logistics bottlenecks and weak market systems.
He added that even simple products like ewedu, widely consumed by Nigerians abroad, are sourced from Egypt and Turkey rather than Nigeria.
Addressing solutions, the agro-export pioneer emphasized the strategic value of urban farming, which he introduced to reduce post-harvest losses and bring production closer to airport hubs.
He also described it as a tool for healthier living, improved food availability, and reduced cost of household nutrition.
However, Captain John pointed out that government policies often complicate rather than support agricultural trade.
He cited the construction of export warehouses in locations such as Cairo and Dakar, which he described as commercially irrelevant to Nigeria’s export logistics when compared to hubs like London and New York.
Corruption, poor attitudes, and misplaced priorities remain the biggest barriers to progress, he stressed.
“Until sincerity and accountability drive our decisions, financing alone will not fix the system,” he cautioned, adding that those who champion genuine change are often frustrated out of the system.
Despite the challenges, Captain John expressed optimism that Nigeria can reclaim its historical dominance in commodities such as cocoa, palm oil, and groundnuts.
Strengthening private-sector leadership, investing in foundational structures, and adopting global best practices, he said, are essential steps to restoring Nigeria’s long-lost agro-export glory.
