Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that the Lagos Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Park, along with a 500-bed psychiatric hospital under construction in Epe, will be completed in 2025.
Speaking during an inspection of the projects, Sanwo-Olu revealed that the food security park is set to be ready by the second quarter of 2025, while the hospital is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter.
The projects are said to be the largest in Africa.
The governor explained the vision behind the food hub, stating, “The food hub was envisioned five years ago because though we are not an agro-producing state, the least we can do is to have our destiny in our hands.
He added: “Covid that happened in 2020 taught us a lesson because it was then that we saw a global disruption in the chain of food logistics. You remember at that time if you don’t have anything in your house, you continue to pray to God.
‘’It was after the global disruption that we came up with a plan that Lagos should be a large-scale food logistics hub to protect itself from food insecurity. We did mention then that food is security, and it is becoming an important and even a normal threat to life’s security. We can see that indeed that move that we made three years ago is on the right course.
‘’The largest food logistics hub in sub-Saharan Africa is here. It is on over 230 hectares of land, about five thousand square metres, and it is going to be the largest, biggest cold and dry chain storage.”
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On the 500-bed psychiatric hospital, the governor said the facility will help to promote mental healthcare delivery.
He said: “The Lagos State Mental Health Institute, a psychiatric rehabilitation centre in Ketu-Ejinrin, is the first of its kind. It borders the food and logistics hub and would be the largest psychiatric rehabilitation centre in entire sub-Saharan Africa. Phase one is the 500-bed health facility and it is evident that all of the structures are ready, including the 500-bed accommodation in different sizes, consultation rooms, dormitories and dining rooms, kitchen, and residence for health facility workers, among others.
”It is a massive health institute sitting on about 25 hectares of land. We believe this kind of health institute is equally important because we have seen enough mental health issues, and need to make a classic case, and we need to make it first class so people can come in for psychotherapy, and rehabilitation and get well in a serene environment.
“Phase two of it will be additional accommodation for patients who need services here and who need rehabilitation centres.
“We are targeting that this time next year, the project would have been completed. This project is about 50 percent done and we believe that in the next 12 months, we can bring it to completion. I am impressed with the level of work that the contractor has put into it.”