The Lagos State Government has announced fresh investments and achievements in agriculture and food systems development, including the training of over 25,000 additional farmers and plans to commission the first phase of its flagship food logistics hub in Epe later this year.

Speaking during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, said the state was transitioning from isolated agricultural interventions to a coordinated food systems economy under the administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.

Olusanya said the government’s strategy was focused on strengthening domestic food production, deepening partnerships with food-producing states, expanding storage and logistics infrastructure, and improving market systems to ensure food availability and price stability.

According to her, more than 25,300 farmers, fisherfolk, processors, livestock operators, market participants, women and youths were trained within the review period, in addition to over 100,500 beneficiaries previously trained by the ministry.

She said the Lagos Agripreneurship Programme trained over 1,500 youths in poultry, aquaculture, crop production and agribusiness management, with beneficiaries undergoing practical training and mentorship before receiving productive assets to begin commercial farming operations.

The commissioner also disclosed that 442 secondary schools applied for the Lagos Agric Scholars Programme, out of which 50 schools were selected for practical vegetable farming support, while 12 winning schools would receive greenhouse facilities and agricultural inputs from the state government.

On livestock development, Olusanya said the Lagos State Butchers Academy had trained 20 youths and supported them with containerised meat shops to modernise the red meat value chain and improve hygiene standards in meat processing across the state.

She added that Governor Sanwo-Olu had approved the training of another 40 youths alongside the provision of 10 additional meat shops.

Highlighting infrastructure projects, the commissioner said the Lagos Rice Mill in Imota, described as the largest in Africa and the third largest globally, produced over 500,000 50kg bags of Eko Rice within the review period.

She said the state had also cultivated hundreds of hectares of rice fields in locations including Eggua, Agonrin and Ganyingbo to boost paddy supply to the mill.

Olusanya further revealed that the first phase of the Lagos Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub in Epe would be commissioned before the end of the year.

The facility, designed to handle over 1,500 trucks daily and support the movement of 1.5 million metric tonnes of food annually, is expected to become the largest food logistics hub in Sub-Saharan Africa upon completion.

“The project will reduce post-harvest losses, improve food safety, lower logistics costs and support stable food prices across Lagos,” she said.

The commissioner noted that the Lagos Fresh Food Hub in Idi-Oro, Mushin, recorded an additional ₦1.2 billion in transactions from 76 market days since May 2025, with more than 850 vendors registered and over 7,000 direct and indirect jobs created.

She added that new mid-level agro-produce hubs were under development in Agege, Opebi, Ikorodu and Bombata, while locations had also been identified in Apapa, Festac and Lekki.

On aquaculture, Olusanya said construction had commenced on the Lagos Aquaculture Centre of Excellence, which is expected to produce 50 million fingerlings annually alongside 2,000 tonnes of table-sized fish and 20,000 tonnes of processed fish.

She said the project would reduce dependence on imported fish, strengthen local production and create jobs across the fish value chain.

The commissioner also announced that 66,949 beneficiaries received grants, inputs, advisory services and other forms of support under various agricultural intervention programmes between May 2025 and date.

The beneficiaries, she said, included farmers under the Ounje Eko Farmers Subsidy Programme, youth agripreneurs supported through the Lagos Agrinnovation Club, and vulnerable households reached under the NG-CARES programme.

Olusanya maintained that Lagos remained committed to building a resilient, technology-driven and sustainable food system capable of guaranteeing food security and positioning the state as a leading food systems hub in Africa. (Tribune News)