SANWO-OLU CALLS FOR COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO FOOD SECURITY IN LAGOS
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has called on stakeholders to strengthen their collective commitment towards building a food-secure Lagos where food is accessible, safe, nutritious and affordable, while leveraging agriculture to drive prosperity and developing resilient food systems capable of addressing future challenges.
The Governor made this call at the grand finale of the 2026 World Food Day Celebration, themed “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow”, held at the Nigeria Police College, GRA, Ikeja, on Friday, where he further urged stakeholders to embrace innovation and collective action in building sustainable food systems in the State.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, noted that despite being Nigeria’s smallest state by landmass, Lagos is home to over 22 million people, thereby making food security a major priority. He stressed that achieving food security therefore requires maximising available land, strengthening partnerships with other states, increasing local food processing and improving distribution systems to reduce post-harvest waste and ensure food gets from farms to households efficiently.
According to him, “I call on all stakeholders to renew their commitment to a common purpose: a Lagos where food is not just available but accessible, safe, nutritious and affordable; where agriculture creates prosperity; and whose food systems are strong enough for tomorrow’s challenges. Together, let us innovate today, so we can nourish tomorrow.
“Since taking office, we have pursued a food system that is resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. Our Five-Year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap targets an increase in food self-sufficiency from about 20% to 40% of our food demand. At the centre of our agenda is a three-tier structure: the Lagos Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub, Mid-Level Agro-Produce Hubs, and last-mile distribution and retail networks. Its purpose is to cut unnecessary intermediaries and food waste, and bring food closer to consumers at competitive prices”, he said.
The Governor disclosed that the Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub at Ketu-Ereyun, Epe, is at an advanced stage, while two mid-level agro-produce hubs had been commissioned at Abijo, Ibeju-Lekki, and Dairy Farm, Agege. He said that construction is also ongoing at Opebi, Ikeja, and Bombata, Lagos Island, as part of efforts to improve food distribution, reduce intermediaries, and make food available to consumers at competitive prices, adding that the Produce for Lagos initiative is connecting participating farmers to structured offtake arrangements at agreed prices, supported by a ₦500 billion Guarantee Offtake Fund.
Commending the farmers for their commitment, sacrifices and contributions to the state’s food economy, Sanwo-Olu urged stakeholders to sustain the commitment beyond the present administration.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, said the State Government had strengthened the state’s food systems over the past seven and a half years through investments in agricultural production, processing, logistics and market development.
She stated that the administration had adopted an integrated approach to connecting all segments of the food value chain, from farmers and processors to traders and consumers, through initiatives such as Eko Logistics, Produce for Lagos and the ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund.
While acknowledging that some projects remained ongoing and would require sustained investment, Olusanya called for continued collaboration among stakeholders in the food sector to promote sustainable food production, improve distribution and ensure greater access to affordable food across Lagos State.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, stressed that food security is essential to national stability, noting that a nation unable to feed itself risks social insecurity.
He added that the State Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, is committed to strengthening food security despite the state’s limited landmass, emphasising the link between food inflation and the nation’s overall inflation rate. He also encouraged residents to patronise local farmers by purchasing their produce, stressing that collective efforts were essential to achieving sustainable food security across Lagos State.
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