By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced his administration’s commitment to commissioning the first phase of the largest food processing hub in West Africa in 2024. The goal is to address food security and reduce food prices in local markets.
This announcement was made during the grand finale of the 2023 World Food Day celebration, themed “Water is Life, Water is Food, Leave No One Behind,” held at the Nigeria Police College in Ikeja, Lagos.
Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted that food security is a global concern, and his government’s strategy to achieve it includes constructing the largest food logistics hub in West Africa. The hub, along with the construction of middle-level markets, aims to bridge the gap between food production and local markets.
Sanwo-Olu reminded the audience of the groundbreaking ceremony held the previous year and stated, “By this time next year, we should have completed the first phase of the project.” The hub features cold storage, dry storage, and other critical infrastructure for storing and distributing various food products.
He emphasized the importance of supporting local farmers and ensuring food affordability and accessibility, especially given the recent rise in food prices. The Governor encouraged more people to engage in rice cultivation to support the Imota rice mill in Ikorodu, which requires a substantial supply of paddy rice.
To further promote food security, Governor Sanwo-Olu mentioned plans to collaborate with neighboring states and other regions to ensure the availability of essential food products in Lagos.
The Commissioner for Agriculture in Lagos State, Abisola Olusanya, noted that World Food Day is an opportunity to address food insecurity and promote the production and consumption of safe food. She stressed the need to scale up production across various value chains and announced that farmers and farmer groups with outstanding produce would be recognized and awarded prizes during the event.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, expressed gratitude to Governor Sanwo-Olu for hosting this year’s World Food Day Celebration. He acknowledged the support and partnership of various agricultural stakeholders, contributing to the success of the event.
Additionally, Mrs. Odiri Erewa-Meggison, Board Director of the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF), discussed the foundation’s commitment to sustainable agricultural initiatives and community development. BATNF has invested over two billion naira and reached over 1.3 million beneficiaries through agricultural programs, access to clean water, and humanitarian projects.
Erewa-Meggison highlighted BATNF’s impact on clean water access, improved living standards, and increased water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) standards in beneficiary communities. She also announced BATNF’s collaboration with the Lagos State Government for the 5th edition of the World Food Day – Lagos Farm Fair.
The event was attended by government officials, traditional rulers, chiefs, farmers from different regions, and representatives from organizations like British American Tobacco foundation and Stanbic Bank. Farmers from the local governments and council development areas across Lagos State actively participated in the fair.