By Babatunde Akinleye
There is a wide notion that in cities, fresh food is hardly available. But the recent strides of the Lagos State government is putting that notion to shame. I make reference to the latest agricultural strides by Lagos State. In December 2023, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, inaugurated the fresh food hub in Idi-Oro, Mushin.
For those not in the know, the concept of the hub is to ensure residents can buy fresh food at farm gate prices every saturday. Talk about vegetables like green pepper, cabbage, and cucumber, banana, pineapple, eggs, yams, onions and water-melons. These can all be found there and at reasonable prices too.
Speaking on X, formerly known as twitter, the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Jubril Gawat, wrote: “The launch of a new way of food distribution in Lagos with the commissioning of the middle-level food agro-hub will see to the tackling of problems associated with post-harvest losses, inflation, carbon footprint and traffic congestion.
“The food Agro-hub is sitting on 6400 square meters of land, has adequate parking (3,017sqm) space to accommodate trailers and vehicles, and has centralized wet and dry storage areas for bulk buying.”
Gawat also revealed that the government’s plan is to have the fresh food hub in three other places – Agege, Ajah and Abule Ado.
While that is still in the pipeline, at the commissioning of the food hub at Mushin, the governor revealed the state’s plan regarding food production, distribution and marketing to include the ongoing construction of the “Central Logistics Hub at Ketu-Ereyun, Epe.”
He also reiterated how this fits in with his administration’s plans.
“This transformation journey is hinged on our five-year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap (2021-2026), which reflects our passionate commitment to boosting food production, processing and marketing,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“The roadmap sets the stage for direct interventions, strategic collaborations and the establishment of linkages with the private sector, financial institutions, foreign governments and multilateral agencies.”
Since its opening, the place has steadily witnessed increased patronage and recently, it was reported that Fathia Williams, Sola Kosoko and Bidemi Kosoko recently visited the fresh food hub. They were attending the food fair which was billed to create awareness about the market. For them, the clean environment and cool ambience was on point. So much so that she advised the government to build more hubs across the state.
“I’m happy to be here today,” she said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
“This is a very fantastic idea by the government and I urge them to do more. The hub is well organised with good location, and less rowdiness. When shopping here, you can move around freely and carry out your business without fear.”
In her praise, Sola Kosoko praised the government for the project, saying she was so surprised at the structure and her experience was stress-free just as the prices of the goods were pocket-friendly.
“My sister Bidemi and I were passing by and we saw the beautiful structure,” she said.
“Our manager said that’s a new market in Mushin, so we decided to take a look. For me, this is an awesome experience, I have been shopping around here in a very conducive environment. I want to encourage other state governors to emulate this; this is a very fantastic and laudable feat.”
If these actresses are gushing over what they have seen, then, they’ll have more to gush at when this idea takes a foothold across the state. This is because, the overall plan, according to Sanwo-Olu, “is to construct 50 Mid-Level Agro produce Hubs across the state.” There is also the introduction of Last Mile Markets to further bring food closer to residents.
Indeed, the building hosting the fresh food hub is clean and modern, the infrastructure is cool and the ambience is superb. It is one that is welcoming, giving off the sort of western vibes that is very appealing.The prices of the foods and farm produce are also affordable. And foodstuffs like pepper are sold by weight, ensuring that customers get good value for their money.
But on a more serious note, it never ceases to amaze that Lagos, despite having the smallest landmass of any Nigerian state, is not whining and wailing about the challenges of land but looking at how to maximise what it has to ensure food security. Just last month, Lagos State partnered with Niger and Kwara states to increase food supply in an initiative tagged, Produce-4-Lagos. Realising that the two states have an advantage in agricultural over it, particularly in livestock, fisheries and horticulture, the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs. Abisola Olusanya, said it is through co-operation, they can fulfil Lagos’ food demand.
“Kwara shares a border with Niger, they have the land, people and the capacity to produce,” Olusanya said at a meeting with the Kwara State Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas and Niger State Commissioner for Industry, Trade, Investment and Private Sector Development, Mr. Aminu Suleman Takuma, held in January in Lagos.
“This is an agenda that we have for many states in Nigeria, not just Kwara and Niger states.”
At the meeting, Olusanya stressed on the need to regain the country’s agricultural prowess and harped on the need for collaboration to ensure national food security.
“We understand our positioning as a state, which is the market for West Africa, so we are making efforts to ensure our people continue to get cheaper, wholesome and quality food and ensure the general prosperity and health of our citizenry,” said Olusanya.
It is impressive to note the co-operation among the three states towards ensuring food security.
“It is a way of bridging gaps and building communities and empowering our farmers and it is about ensuring that there is food security,” said Mrs Thomas.
“We are happy to key into this to be able to feed Kwarans first before we can feed Lagos and Nigeria as a whole.”
On his part, Mr Takuma was delighted with the partnership as it would also transform agriculture in Niger State.
“The Governor has kick-started it with the preparation of 600 hectares of land for cultivation,” he said.
“What we need to know now is what produce they want in Lagos, because everything you throw to the ground in Niger State grows.”
It would be recalled that Lagos, aside from owning farmlands in Osun State, also partnered with Kebbi State some time ago to produce Lake Rice. And over the years, it has dedicated the land it can spare to a wide variety of agricultural purposes.
According to Sanwo-Olu, steps in place to ensure the state meets at least 40 per cent of her food requirements include the Eko Agro Mechanisation Programme, the tractor-hailing application, the establishment of a 32 tonnes/hour Lagos Rice Mill at Imota, the enterprise development for women and youth in poultry production, piggery, aquaculture, apiculture (beekeeping), horticulture, and artisanal fishing.
I wish more states can toe this path of dreaming and planning big in terms of agriculture. That way, the food inflation and insecurity that is bogging the nation would ease off.
