Chairman, Origin Automobile Works, Prince Samuel Joseph Samuel, has called for a radical rethink of the nation’s food security strategy, urging the government to adopt a policy that would require ministers, commissioners and other top officials to own or partner in farming ventures as a condition for leadership.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos to mark the 25th anniversary of Origin Automobile Works, Samuel argued that the persistent agricultural challenges stem from a disconnect between policy formulation and on-the-ground realities.

According to him, the most effective way to close that gap is to ensure that policymakers have direct personal stakes in agriculture.

He said: “If there’s any very serious policy I want the government to make, it is for ministers, commissioners and government officials to own at least a farm or partner in a farming project. There’s no easier way of getting people to relate to something than when they own it and they are truly part of it. Until you own something, you will not reach out. You will not even know those who are playing; you will not know the opportunities that are there”.

Samuel maintained that even modest engagement, such as operating a backyard farm, would transform how leaders understand the sector and naturally push them to deploy their influence in ways that strengthen agriculture and empower farmers.

Beyond policy ownership, the Origin Chairman drew attention to what he described as deep structural gaps in the agricultural ecosystem, particularly the absence of a functional equipment leasing culture. He noted that while leasing is critical to modern agriculture, Nigeria lacks the supporting framework, especially in maintenance services and insurance coverage.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have any very successful leasing company in Nigeria.If anybody needs to come to that space, you will need to come from the point of view of a very large operator that also is vertically integrated. It has to be built by enterprises that are heavily supported by governments,” Samuel said.

He criticised past interventions that focused narrowly on distributing machinery, especially tractors, without building the systems required to make them productive and profitable.

According to him, replacing manual labour with machines without considering efficiency, training and maintenance has often resulted in losses rather than gains.

“You provide a tractor, but you didn’t teach the farmer how to efficiently use the tractor. That’s a problem. Two, you didn’t teach the farmer how to efficiently use the tractor.You didn’t provide him proper maintenance, where he would get quick support and quick maintenance,” Samuel said.

He further highlighted the logistical challenges that undermine tractor-hiring schemes, pointing to the wide dispersion of farms across rural areas. “You put a good tractor in one location. The farmers within that area are five kilometres to 25 to 30 kilometres from each other. If they will pay you N10, you will use N30 to transport the tractor to where I work for them. Will you go? You will not go,” he said.

Despite these challenges, Samuel expressed confidence that farmers could achieve significant income gains if productivity growth is guaranteed through pragmatic government policies and improved mechanisation. He said Nigeria has the natural endowments to rank among the world’s leading food producers but warned that productivity growth has remained moderate in recent years, threatening competitiveness and the country’s ability to meet rising domestic and global food demand.

“Global competitors have pushed ahead with technology-driven productivity gains, and Nigeria is losing ground,” he said, adding that it was time for the country to rediscover its agricultural edge on the global stage.

Samuel stressed that data-driven farming would be critical in meeting global demands for sustainability and traceability, noting that Nigeria’s large and youthful population makes the moment particularly urgent. With the right policy support for mechanised agriculture, he said, the country could reclaim its position as a global agricultural powerhouse.

On human capital development, Samuel revealed that Origin Automobile Works is launching the fifth cohort of its “Origin Eagle” programme, which mentors and trains young engineers.

He said: “The programme currently hosts 60 participants, with plans to train 200 technicians next year through a year-long, fully funded residency. They sit around our project, they move around, and they learn from us. The goal is to duplicate knowledge so that even if they don’t stay with us, they remain valuable contributors to the national economy”.

He also underscored the importance of sustained investment in innovation, arguing that closing the agricultural investment gap is essential because returns on agricultural innovation multiply over the long term. According to him, Nigeria has the talent, ingenuity and drive to lead the world in sustainable food production if productivity and innovation are placed at the centre of how food is grown.

Reaffirming Origin Automobile Works’ commitment to national development, Samuel said the company has positioned itself as a regional leader in equipment stocking.

“As you can see here, we always hold the largest stock of equipment. Any type of equipment you can talk about, no company in this country or in West Africa has the stock of our machines. That is to show you that we have confidence in the economy, we have confidence in the leaders and the policymakers,” Samuel said.

He disclosed that several large-scale agricultural initiatives currently in incubation would be unveiled in the first quarter of next year, promising significant economic impact.

On the revenue potential of agriculture, Samuel compared Nigeria with global leaders, noting that the United States generates about $177 billion annually from food exports, with soybeans accounting for a large share, while the Netherlands earns over $100 billion. He contrasted this with Nigeria, where about 40 percent of the workforce is engaged in agriculture and roughly 62 percent participates in the broader agri-food value chain.

Addressing rising food prices and policy responses, Samuel cautioned against short-term fixes that undermine long-term economic health. He described agriculture as a sector that requires continuity, something often disrupted by political cycles.

He said: “Agriculture has long gestation. It’s not a short-term business.t’s a relay race. It’s not a marathon. So you have to pass the baton”.

He noted that to reduce the risks of policy inconsistency, there must be stronger private enterprises, which are the true engines of sustainable development.

“That’s why the democracies that are very successful try to encourage enterprises, because enterprises are more potential than relying on government policy.We must work harder to celebrate, manage the deficiencies and challenges of our enterprises, and find a way to grow them and ensure that they are sustainable,” Samuel said.

He added that Origin is already working strategically with federal and state governments to develop Nigeria’s agri-food system by identifying high-value clusters, supporting startups, increasing exposure to international partners and strengthening supply chains with industry-backed technology.