by Usman Alabi
The Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode said that daily consumption of foodstuffs in the state is worth over N3bn, He added that investors in the agricultural sector had a ready market and returns on their investments.
He said this at the maiden edition of the Lagos Food Security and Exhibition Summit with the theme. ‘Actualising Sustainable Food Security in Lagos State: A New Comprehensive Agenda,’. He said his administration would maximise Lagos comparative advantage to achieve food security.
According to him “Nigeria has no business importing foodstuffs to feed its citizens. we must cultivate the land and 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 partner other states.”
The governor said his administration had partnered the Kebbi state Government for the development of agricultural commodities such as rice, wheat, groundnut and onion, expressing optimism that the partnership would result in the supply of 70% of the total national rice consumption.
“We have also acquired agricultural land in Ogun, Osun and Oyo states, as well as Abuja for rice cultivation and oil palm processing, among others,” he said.
Perhaps Lagos state is on the path of food sufficiency with all these laudable initiatives. Realising that it does not have enough Arable land, it began acquiring this in other state to boost agricultural sufficiency, beyond this Lagos has an active market that is attractive to other food producing states.
What do you have to say on this, we would like to hear your view.