‘Why ministers, commissioners should own farms’

The Chairman, Origin Tech Group, 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 agricultural ventures as an imperative for sustainable growth and development of the Nigerian […]

The Chairman, Origin Tech Group, 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 agricultural ventures as an imperative for sustainable growth and development of the Nigerian economy.

He spoke in Lagos at a media briefing in Lagos to herald the 25th Anniversary of Origin Automobile Works (OAW), a subsidiary of Origin Tech Group Nigeria.

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 the gap is to ensure that policymakers have direct personal stakes in agriculture.

He said, “One of the very serious policies I would want to admonish the government to make is for ministers, commissioners and government officials to own at least a farm or partner in a farming project. There is no easier way of getting people to relate to something than when they own part of 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 inherent in such ideas.”

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

Beyond policy ownership, the Origin Tech Group Chairman drew attention to what he described as deep structural gaps in the agricultural ecosystem, particularly the absence of a functional equipment financing 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 companies 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 must be built by enterprises that are heavily supported by governments,” Samuel said.

He rejected the narrative that Nigeria’s agricultural policies have failed outright, instead he described them as underdeveloped and repeatedly abandoned.

Agriculture, he argued, is a long-gestation sector that demands continuity.

Samuel was also blunt about branding and export.

He argued that Nigeria’s obsession with branding agricultural products without addressing scale is misplaced.

In his view, scale precedes branding, not the other way round.

As an example, he noted that despite Nigeria’s reputation as a major yam producer, no single producer can supply large, consistent volumes required for global trade.

Mechanisation, he said, is central to breaking this cycle, but it must be approached realistically.

He noted that Origin Automobile Works (OAW), a subsidiary of Origin Tech Group, has spent twenty-five years providing equipment financing to individuals and cooperatives across Nigeria and West Africa.

The company has also assembled tractors locally for over two decades.

However, full scale manufacturing remains difficult in a market where annual tractor sales are below 1,200 units.

Samuel also disclosed plans to roll out financing initiatives targeted at farms with at least 1,000 hectares with a long-term objective of enabling 1,000 such farms nationwide.

In his view, scale is the only viable path to mechanisation, productivity and competitiveness.

On leasing, Samuel acknowledged its potential but cautioned that it cannot succeed without strong insurance systems, maintenance infrastructure and functional secondary markets, elements that are still weak in Nigeria.

He stressed that leasing must be driven by large, vertically integrated enterprises with deliberate government backing to be effective.

Technology, particularly data and artificial intelligence, featured prominently in Samuel’s vision for the future.

He revealed that Origin Tech Group is developing an AI-powered agricultural platform built on over a century of accumulated data.

The platform is designed to deliver Nigeria’s specific insights for farmers, investors and policymakers.

Alongside this, the group is deploying drones for farm imaging and precision agriculture, all of which are tested internally before being released to the market.