In a determined effort to combat food insecurity and ensure sustainable food supply, the Lagos State Government has launched several initiatives aimed at achieving 40% food self-sufficiency by 2025. This ambitious goal is part of the state’s five-year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap, introduced by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2021.
The roadmap outlines multiple projects designed to boost agricultural productivity and enhance food security. Among these are the Central Logistics Hub, Lagos Aquaculture Centre of Excellence (LACE), and the Lagos Rice Mill³. According to the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, “We will go live on eight projects which include capacity building for horticulture stakeholders and full operations for the Lagos Food Production Centres.”
To meet the growing demand for rice, Lagos State is partnering with other states such as Niger and Kebbi to increase rice paddy production. Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, emphasized the importance of these collaborations: “We were able to do roughly about 15,000 tonnes of paddy in 2023, but this year we are hoping to do 100,000 tonnes.”
In response to the economic challenges exacerbated by the removal of fuel subsidies, Governor Sanwo-Olu has also announced several palliative measures. These include the distribution of food packs containing rice, beans, and cassava flour to vulnerable residents through Community Development Associations and religious bodies. “The palliative is only one of the many steps the government has taken to relieve people of the difficulties arising from the fuel subsidy removal and strengthen the economy,” said Governor Sanwo-Olu.
The Lagos State Government remains committed to its goal of food sufficiency. The establishment of the Lagos Food Hub and other strategic initiatives are expected to significantly reduce the state’s vulnerability to food shortages. As Ms. Olusanya noted, “The state government will also create the Lagos Agrinnovation Clusters, the Food Value Chains’ Destination, and the Lagos Central Food Security System and Logistics Hub.”
Lagos State’s comprehensive approach to food sufficiency, through strategic investments and collaborations, aims to create a resilient food system that can withstand economic shocks and ensure a steady supply of food for its residents.
#LagosFoodSufficiency #Agriculture #FoodSecurity #LagosState #SustainableDevelopment
