In Lagos, N3billion Worth of food consumed daily- Ambode

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday said that investors willing to do business in the agric sector in the State can be rest assured of a ready market and returns on investment as the daily consumption of food items in the State is worth over N3billion daily.

The Governor, who spoke at the maiden edition of the Lagos Food Security and Exhibition Summit with the theme “Actualizing Sustainable Food Security in Lagos State: A New, Comprehensive Agenda”, said his administration remained committed in its efforts towards maximising its comparative advantage in the sector to achieve food security.

He said Nigeria had no business resorting to importation to feed its citizens, adding that there was no alternative to achieving food security other than tilling the land and embrace best practices that will improve efficiency in the agricultural value chain.

“Our core policy thrust towards achieving food security is to maximize the comparative advantage of the State in agriculture and establish partnerships with other States of the Federation with comparative advantage in specific areas,” the Governor said.

Listing some areas of collaboration already activated, Governor Ambode said his administration had sealed a landmark partnership with Kebbi State Government for the development of agricultural commodities such as rice, wheat, groundnut, onion, maize and beef value chain, expressing optimism that the partnership can result in the supply of 70 per cent of the total national rice consumption.

“We have also acquired agricultural land in other neighbouring States of Ogun and Oyo as well as Abuja. Specifically, 500 hectares of farm land has been acquired for rice cultivation in Eggua, Ogun State, 84.7 hectares at Okinni in Oshogbo for oil palm processing, among others,” he said.

Earlier, Chairman of the Summit, Alhaji Sani Dangote, commended the Ambode-led administration for being in the forefront in addressing the challenge of food security, saying that the State boasts of a large population with an economy ranked as the fifth largest in Sub-Saharan Africa, a bulging youth population and capital of the nation’s industrial base.

He said despite the shortage of arable land in the State, the State Government can leverage on its comparative advantages to not only guarantee food security in the State, but also feed the neighbouring South West States.