The SUN reports that Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate for 2023, recently spoke about the urgent problems facing our nation’s northeastern region. He pointed out that, in spite of having two large states—Borno and Taraba—that together cover more than 125,000 square kilometers, the region faces many difficulties. He made an insightful comparison by bringing up Belgium, a European country that is only 30,000 square kilometers in size. Despite this, Belgium manages to export more than $20 billion annually, which is a testament to its economic prowess. These facts highlight the difficulties that the northeastern region faces.
Obi emphasizes that the northeastern region’s landmass surpasses that of Belgium, yet it encounters difficulties that hinder its full potential. The economy, though promising, remains obstructed by impediments that demand urgent attention.
Speaking candidly, Obi stated, “The northeast is collapsing. They said it was the problem in the northeast. It shouldn’t be. The two largest states in the northeast, Borno and Taraba, have a combined area of over 70,000 square kilometers. Taraba alone spans 54,000 square kilometers. When we combine these two states, their total landmass reaches 125,000 square kilometers—four times the size of Belgium. And yet, Belgium, with its modest dimensions, thrives in international trade, proving that size alone does not guarantee prosperity.”
