A speech on the Appropriation Bill given in the House of Representatives, Lagos, on 7th April, 1960.
In determining the order of priorities, or in proposing the order of priorities, I would like to call the attention of this house to certain figures for our gross national and net national income. At the moment we can only rely on those figures revised by various people, the International Bank Mission and others. But the position today, Mr. Speaker, or as far back as 1955-56 is that our gross national income is £806.8 million. Out of this, £501.4 million is provided, or derived from agricultural and allied sources; agriculture, livestock, and fishery. In other words, at the very moment, and for a long time to come, the base of our wealth is agriculture. In my view, therefore, the first priority should be the bold and rapid development of agricultural economy in this…
