By Abdullahi Lukman
In response to Nigeria’s ongoing food insecurity and economic challenges, urban farming is becoming an increasingly popular practice among city residents.
From rooftops in Lagos to backyard systems in Abuja, more Nigerians are turning to small-scale, innovative farming methods to supplement their household food needs and generate income.
Urban agriculture, long seen as a fringe activity, has gained momentum due to rising food prices, supply chain disruptions, and limited access to fresh produce.
Technologies like hydroponics, aquaponics, and container gardening are being embraced in urban settings, where limited land and water resources often make traditional farming difficult.
Ifeoluwa Adedayo, a 27-year-old graduate, runs a modest hydroponic farm on her rooftop in Surulere, Lagos. She uses recycled materials and a solar-powered system to grow leafy vegetables like lettuce and spinach.
What began as a lockdown project has now turned into a small business, with Adedayo supplying produce to local restaurants. “I started because food prices kept rising,” she says, reflecting the economic pressures faced by urban dwellers.
The rising cost of food in Nigeria—currently hovering around 21% inflation—has made it more difficult for urban households to access fresh produce.
With over 75% of Lagos’s food supply coming from rural areas, logistical challenges such as fuel costs, poor infrastructure, and security concerns make the city’s food supply vulnerable to disruptions.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, notes that urban agriculture is becoming a critical supplement to the city’s food system.
To address these vulnerabilities, the Lagos State government has launched initiatives like the “Produce for Lagos” programme and the Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub in Epe, aimed at improving local food production, storage, and distribution.
In Abuja, Samuel Oche, a 30-year-old urban farmer, operates an aquaponics system that combines fish farming with vegetable production.
Using online resources and phone-linked sensors, Oche manages water quality and nutrient cycles for his crops. “The technology makes it easier to start small,” he says, pointing to the role of digital tools in enabling urban farming.
The growth of urban farming is also being facilitated by new platforms like FarmEasy, AgroHive, and UrbanGrow, which provide resources, training, and market access to small-scale urban farmers.
These platforms are part of a growing network of micro-farmers contributing to urban food availability and entrepreneurship.
Waste management and sustainability are also key components of urban farming. For example, Chidinma Nwosu, a secondary school teacher in Lagos, runs a composting service that turns food waste into organic fertilizer for local gardens and small farms.
“It helps reduce waste in the community and supports people growing vegetables,” she says, linking urban farming to broader environmental and waste management goals.
Despite its potential, urban farming faces challenges, including limited regulatory support, inadequate access to credit, and the absence of formal waste-to-compost policies.
Some African countries, like Kenya and Ghana, have established urban farming regulations and designated zones for city-based agriculture, providing structured support for farmers.
Olusanya advocates for similar policy frameworks in Nigeria, emphasizing that urban farming needs more infrastructure, training, and incentives to grow sustainably.
While urban farming cannot replace large-scale rural agriculture, it is becoming an important component of food security in Nigeria’s cities.
Urban farms help reduce household food costs, increase access to fresh produce, and create income opportunities. Community gardens in areas like Yaba (Lagos), Gwarinpa (Abuja), and Port Harcourt offer shared spaces for local farming and serve as informal learning centers where residents exchange knowledge on soil health, irrigation, and pest control.
Though urban farming faces challenges such as water scarcity, rising input costs, and limited space, many practitioners remain optimistic.
For Ifeoluwa Adedayo, her rooftop garden represents a practical, adaptable solution to the country’s food and economic difficulties.
“Not everyone needs a big setup,” she says. “Starting small with herbs or container gardens can help with food costs and give you more control.”
As Nigeria continues to grapple with food insecurity, urban farming is emerging as a viable and flexible response to the nation’s growing food crisis.
