By Abdullahi Lukman
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for stronger partnerships with food-producing states, investors, research institutions and development partners to improve food security and ensure the availability of affordable food across the state.
Sanwo-Olu made the call on Friday through his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, at the grand finale of the 2026 World Food Day celebration in Ikeja, Lagos, held under the theme, “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow.”
The governor said Lagos could not achieve food security independently, stressing the need for innovation in food production, processing, storage and distribution to meet the demands of its growing population.
He explained that the state’s five-year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap aimed to increase food self-sufficiency from about 20 per cent to 40 per cent of its total food demand.
According to him, achieving the target would require increased productivity on existing farmland, efficient sourcing of produce from other states, improved local processing and reduced post-harvest losses.
Sanwo-Olu also highlighted ongoing investments in food distribution infrastructure, including the Lagos Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub at Ketu-Ereyun, Epe, whose first phase was at an advanced stage.
He said mid-level agro-produce hubs at Abijo in Ibeju-Lekki and Dairy Farm in Agege had been commissioned, while construction was ongoing at Opebi in Ikeja and Bombata on Lagos Island to improve distribution and bring food closer to consumers at competitive prices.
The governor further disclosed that the state’s Produce for Lagos initiative was linking participating farmers to structured offtake arrangements at agreed prices, backed by a ₦500 billion Guarantee Offtake Fund.
He said the initiative was intended to strengthen market access for farmers, reduce the number of intermediaries and improve the affordability of food for residents.
Sanwo-Olu, who described the event as the final World Food Day celebration of his administration, commended farmers for their contributions to Lagos’ food system, adding that efforts to strengthen food security must continue beyond any government tenure.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, said the state had invested in agricultural production, processing and market infrastructure over the past seven and a half years to improve food supply and meet the needs of its expanding population.
She listed the Lagos Rice Mill, the Central Food Logistics Hub, mid-level markets, last-mile meat distribution points, dairy and cattle feedlot projects, and the Lagos Aquaculture Centre of Excellence among the initiatives aimed at strengthening the food value chain.
Olusanya also highlighted programmes such as the Ounje Eko Food Discount Market, fertiliser distribution, mechanisation support and cold-chain logistics under Eko Logistics.
She added that the government had established agricultural laboratories in more than 40 schools and trained over 100,000 people, while the Lagos Agrinnovation Club and Agrithon were encouraging young people to develop solutions to agricultural challenges.
The commissioner urged farmers, processors, traders, transporters, financial institutions and development partners to sustain collaboration in building a resilient food system.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola, described food security as essential to national stability and encouraged residents to support local farmers by purchasing their produce.
The celebration featured a march-past by farmers’ associations, food groups and cooperative societies from across the state’s local government areas, with participants displaying agricultural produce and other products.
