The Lagos State Government has commissioned the construction of what will be the largest Food Security Systems and Central Logistics Park in sub-Saharan Africa as it moves to reduce vulnerability to food shortages and guarantee uninterrupted food supplies.
The groundbreaking ceremony was performed on Wednesday by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the site of the facility being built on 1.2 million square meters of land in Ketu-Ereyun, Epe.
The Sanwo-Olu administrations creation of the food park is an element of a daring 5-year Agricultural and Food Systems Road Map (2021–2025) launched in 2021 by the to enhance food sufficiency in Lagos.
The hub is expected to create direct wealth for more than 5 million traders in the agricultural value chain when completed, and also guarantee uninterrupted food supplies to more than 10 million Lagosians, at least 90 days, in a period of scarcity.
Transactions on food items in Lagos are estimated to be N5 trillion yearly, just as farmers daily lose 40% of produce worth millions due to lack of post-harvest storage system.
Sanwo-Olu reassures the central food hub would yield greater profit for farmers and investors in the agro-allied sector, as the facility would eliminate layers of middlemen and ease access to modern processing and packaging services.
He pointed out that market matrix generated from the facility would help the Government generate useful data for public planning and for the use of private sector players to project investment.
He said, “Today’s flag-off of the Food Security Systems and Central Logistics Park is proof of our administration’s commitment to addressing the challenges of stakeholders in the Agri-space and giving hope to the people through improved quality of life. I make bold to say this is one of the most important interventions in agricultural sector that Nigeria has ever seen. The fact that this project is taking off in Lagos, the fastest-growing sub-national entity, means that it is bound to have significant national, regional, and continental impact.
“This hub will provide a better buying experience for consumers, help achieve a reduction in logistics costs, while guaranteeing the standardization of quantity and quality for agricultural products. It also will improve productivity, guarantee greater returns for farmers, by cutting out several layers of middlemen. It will facilitate improved access to modern processing and packaging services for farmers and generate useful data for the use of government agencies, private sector players, and multilateral agencies.”
Sanwo-Olu expressed that the choice location for the project was strategic, given its easy access and proximity to rural settlements. He said the State had secured a well thought out funding scheme to kick off the project, which he promised will be delivered in the last quarter of 2024.
