What is the Nigeria gold? It isn't oil, that is for the middle east. It isn't cocoa anymore; ivory coast has taken over that. What is it then? YAM
the UN's food agency says Nigeria produces more than 60% of the entire world's yams.
Despite this, Nigeria is not one of the world top exporters.
Its neighbour, Ghana, produces far less but exports more yams to European countries such as the UK than Nigeria does.
Spotting this discrepancy, Nigeria launched an ambitious yam export scheme earlier this year.
Nigeria's government wants yam and other agricultural products to replace oil as the mainstay of the economy after the recent worldwide oil slump.
So desperate was the situation that government salaries have gone unpaid, with barely a mention made of developmental projects and social amenities.
Critics say Nigeria should process yams locally, seeing this as a lost opportunity.
''Fantastic idea! But ask them how much it costs to set up a yam flour processing factory," says the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Ogbeh.
"You use full grade stainless steel."
Mr Ogbeh says that for now, the best course is to export raw yams.
"We have obstacles in our economic ambitions. When we stabilise, and when electricity and interest rates become more reasonable and repayable, Nigerians can try that."
So can Nigeria's government really bring in more than $6bn ($4.5bn) every year with yam exports and create thousands of jobs, as it has claimed?
'Yes, and not only yam. Other items are going to follow," says Mr Ogbeh. "But yam is going to be our major hope.''
But Nigeria lacks good storage facilities, the transportation system is very poor, and local traders and exporters are struggling.
There are also concerns that greater demand abroad could inflate prices for customers at home, potentially hitting the poorest who rely most on the staple food.
''We need help from the government," says Cecilia John, a farmer, who nevertheless backs the push for exports.
"Help in terms of loans, tractors, fertilisers, herbicides and insecticides. If we get these, we will produce many times what we produce now and we will earn more money to take care of our children very well.''
Analysts echo the view that exports of the starch could help to iron out Nigeria's economic woes, but only with sufficient resources and support for producers.

yea. yam export is the way togo but storage and transportation techniques needs to be sorted out first. I was discussing this prospect with my brother and he told me of an experience of a yam exporter whose yam got bad due to heat in the containner enen before it gets to the port for shipment.