Lagos State is proposing a unified national approach to tackling food scarcity, promoting food security and addressing Nigeria’s deepening food crisis.
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state governor, through Abisola Olusanya, the commissioner for agriculture and food systems, outlined a three-pillar strategy designed to ensure sustainable food supply across the country at the BusinessDay Future of Agriculture Conference themed “Moving Nigeria from scarcity to food security” Thursday.
With 31.8 million Nigerians facing food scarcity, Lagos, which consumes 30 percent of the country’s total food supply, is advocating for a strategic partnership among subnational governments, federal authorities, and private sector players.
Three pillars of food security
The first pillar of Lagos States’ food security plan focuses on subnational alliances, proposing the establishment of a “Feed Nigeria Pact” which seeks to align all regions in leveraging their unique agricultural strengths to contribute to a collective national food security strategy.
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The second pillar urges federal support for rural infrastructure development to enhance agricultural productivity and market connectivity. “We urge the federal government to prioritise development of rural infrastructure, which is crucial for enhancing agricultural productivity and connectivity,” the governor said. He also called for tax incentives to agro-processors, arguing that lowering operational costs would stimulate growth and ensure food affordability.
The third pillar recommends private sector mobilisation, stressing the role of agrotech innovation and logistics in modernising farming and the supply chain. This approach hopes to increase crop yield, reduce waste, and create entrepreneurial opportunities, ultimately ensuring that “food reaches all tables across Nigeria.”
Solving market access and food production
Lagos has already taken steps to mitigate food scarcity through initiatives such as the Ounje Eko food market, which offers a 25 percent discount on selected items in phases, and the Eko Flavours Project, which promotes local culinary talent. Other programmes, including Agrithon and the Agri-Innovation Club, are designed to encourage agricultural innovation and entrepreneurship.
Despite these efforts, market access remains a major hurdle. Traditional food hubs like Ido and Oyingbo face structural inefficiencies that limit efficient food distribution, necessitating systemic reforms.
Frank Aigbogun, publisher of BusinessDay, welcoming stakeholders, said the country has what it takes to achieve food security, being surrounded by arable lands suitable for farming.
He explained that Nigeria could achieve food security by doubling production on an annual basis and reducing its food waste. “We can go beyond being food sufficient to becoming a key player in the area of food production,” he said.
According to him, Africa’s most populous nation, though losing about 40 percent to post-harvest loss annually, can grow to become a major player in the global agricultural space that feeds not only Nigerians but the world.
The state’s agriculture and food systems roadmap, launched in 2021, has laid the groundwork for these interventions. However, sustained success, according to Lagos, will require collective action from all stakeholders, including state and federal governments, private enterprises, and consumers.
