The Lagos State Government has announced that the Mid-Level Agro Produce Hub in Idi-Oro, Mushin, has facilitated food transactions worth over ₦3 billion since its commissioning in December 2023.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, during a ministerial briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre as part of activities marking Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s sixth year in office.
According to Olusanya, the Idi-Oro Hub is a vital component of the state’s food system transformation agenda and operates weekly markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays, offering residents access to affordable, fresh farm produce.
“The Hub was inaugurated on December 17, 2023, by Mr. Governor and has since commenced active operations. To date, it has recorded over ₦3 billion in food trade,” she said.
She added that three additional Mid-Level Agro Produce Hubs are currently under construction at Agege, Abijo, and Opebi, reinforcing the state’s commitment to revolutionizing food systems.
Expanding Agricultural Infrastructure
Olusanya noted that key agricultural infrastructure like the Lagos Cattle Transit Station, ranches, and the Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub in Epe demonstrate the administration’s strategic focus on sustainable food production and distribution.
She emphasized that the state has developed a comprehensive five-year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap and a Food Security Systems Policy Document, both serving as frameworks to enhance productivity and resilience in the sector.
Preparing for Population Growth and Rising Demand
The Commissioner highlighted that Lagos’s population is expected to reach 24 million by 2030, with food demand projected to hit ₦7.96 trillion annually. At current production levels, the state would need to import food worth approximately ₦3.38 trillion each year.
“To reduce this deficit, Lagos must increase its food production by at least 20% annually to achieve 40% local production by 2030,” she said.
Sanwo-Olu’s Agricultural Achievements
Olusanya presented a detailed account of achievements made by the Ministry in the past year, including:
- The Lagos Rice Mill, Imota, which has produced over 240,000 bags of 50kg rice and generated over 10,000 jobs.
- Ounje Eko initiatives, which have provided subsidized food to 800,000 households and supported over 3,700 poultry and fish farmers.
- Empowerment of 70,200 beneficiaries with agricultural inputs and production tools.
- Construction of 13km of farm roads, 6 jetties, and 15 cottage processing centres through World Bank-backed projects like APPEALS and Lagos CARES.
Other Notable Projects
The state also launched various youth-focused and community-based programmes, including:
- Lagos Agric Scholars Programme
- Agrinnovation Club & Agrithon Fund
- Urban Farming Initiative
- Eko Agro Mechanisation Project
- Lagos Food Festival
- Aquaculture Production and Processing Centre (LACE)
These initiatives collectively aim to modernize Lagos’s agricultural landscape, improve food security, and create dignified employment across the value chain.
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