In a bid to enhance food production and security, the Lagos State Government has entered into a strategic partnership with Niger State, which boasts the largest agricultural farmland in Nigeria.
The Governors of both states signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Lagos House, Marina, Lagos, solidifying their commitment to collaborate in exploring their respective comparative advantages to ensure a constant supply of agricultural commodities for consumers.
The agreement, dubbed the “Produce for Lagos Initiative,” is a joint effort aimed at aligning with the Emergency Food Security Initiative declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This initiative seeks to cultivate thousands of hectares of land to sustain food production and supply chains.
The partnership between Lagos and Niger States is a long-term endeavor focused on leveraging their strengths. While Lagos is positioned as a ready and organized food market for consumers, Niger State boasts vast arable land for agriculture and food production.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and his counterpart from Niger State, Mallam Umar Mohammed Bago, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective states. Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasized the significance of the partnership, highlighting how the collaboration between the smallest and largest states in terms of landmass aims to benefit citizens through increased agricultural productivity and food security.
Governor Bago described the partnership as a landmark agreement that leverages Lagos’ status as the largest consumer of agricultural resources in Nigeria and Niger State’s abundance of agricultural land. He emphasized the importance of promoting food security and safety through such collaborations.
The Commissioner for Agriculture in Lagos State, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, outlined the practical implications of the partnership. She noted that the arrangement would contribute to price stability and accommodate pre-production contracts in the value chain, enabling farmers to reduce costs and improve output.
As part of the agreement, the first phase of the Food Security Systems and Central Logistics Park being constructed in Ketu-Ereyun, Epe, will be commissioned in December. This facility will serve as a warehouse for the large supplies of agricultural commodities from Niger State. In the interim, existing middle-level hubs will be utilized as distribution points for the supplied commodities.
A wide range of agricultural commodities, including staple foods, rice paddies, tubers, beans, legumes, maize, and grains, will be produced and shipped to Lagos markets under this partnership.
