The Lagos State government has stated that the Lekki corridor, initially zoned for agriculture, has been encroached upon by housing development.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, revealed this during the yearly ministerial media briefing, marking the first year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term.
Olusanya emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that land designated for agriculture is utilized appropriately, aiming to create an organized food system and value-chain destination.
This effort aligns with the government’s five-year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap (2021-2025) and Food Security Systems Policy Document objectives.
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The commissioner highlighted the importance of the Lagos food market, valued at N9 billion in daily transactions and N5 trillion yearly. She also mentioned the government’s initiatives to regulate food prices through food hubs and intervention programs, including the approval of seven additional food hubs by the governor.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Oluwarotimi Fashola, disclosed that the government’s rice mill initiative has partnered with various states to ensure the availability of paddy production. However, he noted that the current capacity of the state’s rice mill falls short, receiving less than 10 per cent of the required paddy supply.
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Fashola assured that the Lagos government is collaborating with partners, including sub-national entities, to increase the supply of paddy to the mill and improve the agricultural sector’s productivity.