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This writer has long argued through various write ups that Nigeria has missed golden opportunities to recruit scientists from around the globe, particularly those from collapsed communist regimes. Since Nigeria is lethargic and excessively blinded by ethnic and geopolitics in the use of its citizens, it therefore becomes pertinent that neutral professionals from elsewhere be brought in to aid in her development.

The current open door immigration policy that witnesses white migration to Nigeria is not only a good policy, but also past due. Although we welcome the migration of South African farmers to Nigeria, the writer disagrees with the process by which these mega million dollar agro business investors are being brought into the country.

It is important that Nigeria do things the right way the first time in order to avert unforeseen difficulties during program implementation stages. Furthermore, there is no question in our minds that Nigerian agricultural sector is in a sorry state, and therefore in need of infusion of new life. A compendium of Nigerian agricultural sector shows a steady declining sector totally ignored by every government dating from mid 1960s. The discovery of oil was the final nail in the agricultural coffin.

Prior to the discovery of oil, Nigeria ran a boisterous agricultural program. The country used to be major international players in palm oil, groundnut, tin / ore, coco, rubber, and so forth. In the 1980s, Nigeria became one of the major importers of the same products that it used to export in the 1960s. Among the products imported to Nigeria is palm oil which is derived from Ivory Coast.

West African nations, Nigeria in particular has never had a strong history of mega agricultural farming. In such arena, large acres of land will be utilized. To find large acres of undivided land in a society where individual land ownership derived from one generation to another and sub divided as the family grows, will be challenging, and although that does not mean that it cannot be done. However, this writer is concerned with the government involvement in what should be private venture.

In Africa, there is a tendency to confuse the proper role of government. The role of government is to provide an environment conducive for investment and free enterprise. The proper role of government in a democratic free society is to provide basic infrastructures such as roads, airports and seaports and other amenities that would allow efficient and effective execution of commerce. Importantly, provision of rules and laws and other means of judicial settlements where disputants would settle their differences without resort to jungle justice as are currently practiced in Nigeria.

Furthermore, the Nigerian government is wrong to invite nine states out of thirty six states in the nation, to Abuja for the purpose of selecting venues for the white farmer’s settlement. One wonders the criteria for such selection. Suppose a resident of Anambra state with vast arid land but not selected among the nine lucky states went into a private agreement with some of these farmers to move to the state. What will the government do? Will the government ban such move on the ground that it fall within its domain, or will it ax the whole or part of the deal in an attempt to discourage such. Or perhaps, will it use it mighty power of the law enforcement personnel to scar participants away?

Again and in the same line of thought, supposing that those white farmers, predominantly Christians, do not wish to settle at one of the sharia states such as Kaduna out of fear of religious differences. Will the federal government bus them to Kaduna or provide special police force to protect them, a policy that was not used when the northern and southern Christians were being slaughtered by sharia bigots in some northern states?

Even though these white farmers desperately want to get out of Zimbabwe, that does that mean that they must jump from frying pan into fire. They should be weary of big brother involvement in what should be solely controlled by market forces. After all, it was the same government involvement in the racially charged seizure of native lands in Zimbabwe that got them in the mess they found themselves in today.

Historically, this is Obasanjo’s second venture into agricultural issue. The first occurred during his reign as a dictator in the seventies. It was then that he introduced "Operation feed the nation," which was a colossal failure because as soon as it was introduced, he went on a spending binge, hosting such gigantic festivals as FESTAC and other white elephant projects that siphoned the money that would have otherwise been used to feed the nation through local agricultural production.

It is hoped that this second time around, that Obasanjo should do things differently by sending a bill to the Nigerian Parliament that would facilitate granting of citizenship to investors who want to invest in Nigeria such as the white south African farmers. The government should not be an arbiter or aid in negotiating business contracts by private citizens. It is about time that the government began to recognize that it is in the best interest of the nation that the government desisted from being the primary employer of people and provider of jobs. The government has its hands full as it tackles lawlessness; it makes a sound policy to fight crime, the major impediment that infringes on free business enterprise.

It should be observed that all the businesses that the Nigerian government is involved in its decision making in the country is not efficient, effective and boisterous. A few of such enterprise comes to mind: Ajaokuta Iron and Steal industry, NEPA, Nigerian Police Force, and what makes the government involvement in the agro farming business not tow the same path as the aforementioned organizations?