How Lagos is changing narrative on food wastage

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving the current system, which is inundated by wastage, post-harvest losses, traffic congestion, and other inefficiencies that result in the loss of over 50% of agricultural produce, especially in perishables in the state.

Sanwo-Olu, who gave the commitment at the commissioning of the fresh food agro-hub in the Mushin area of the state, said that the state’s transformation journey is hinged on the 5-year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap (2021-2026), which reflects the passionate commitment of the state to boosting food production, processing and marketing. The 6,400 square meters facility housing the Fresh Food-Agro Hub in Mushin would put to rest problems associated with postharvest losses, inflation and traffic congestion during the movement of food items across the state. The facility with adequate car/truck parking area, with centralised dry and cold storage systems, would give market players the economies of scale to make decent profits.

Sanwo-Olu said that the facility, the first in the state, heralds a turning point in the state’s food distribution system and that the hub will also address prevailing market challenges of inadequate infrastructure; food shortage; high degree of fragmentation and standardisation. The governor said that through efficiency-driven strategies such as this and other initiatives including the ground breaking Eko Agro Mechanisation Programme, the innovative 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, the state is on the right path to enhancing food production, which would lead to attaining the goal of meeting 40 per cent of Lagos State’s food requirements by 2025.

“As these efforts continue to yield the desired result in increased food production, it becomes imperative that all the inefficiencies that can erode the impact on the populace are addressed, which is the central goal of the Food Systems Transformation Agenda. This agenda categorises our Food System into the Central Logistics Hub, Mid-level Agro-produce Hub, and the Last Mile Food Distribution outlets”, he added. To demonstrate the state’s resolve to follow through with the agenda, according to him, “the construction of the Central Logistics Hub at Ketu-Ereyun, Epe is ongoing while the smallest of the pilot, the mid-level Agro-produce Hub, is being commissioned today.

“This will be followed with the construction of additional three Hubs at Agege, Ajah, and Abule-Ado axis of the state. In all, the plan is to construct 50 Mid-Level Agro-produce Hubs across the state. The transformation agenda is strategic in the actualisation of the THEMES plus agenda of this administration, especially the 4th pillar of making Lagos a 21st century economy and it is envisaged that through this project and similar ones to be implemented, food preservation and presentation to the populace will be enhanced. The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya said the initiative is a middle level food hub purposely built to serve the people at the grassroots.

She said that the Agro Hub was part of food transformation agenda of Lagos and Nigeria at large and that the initiative was to ensure that farmers maximise their profit, allow market women to sell at the right price since it already eliminates wastage. Olusanya noted that the Fresh Food Agro Hub will further boost a healthy environment processed with fresh foods, adding that Lagos takes care of 60% of commerce in the country. A member representing the Mushin Federal Constituency, Toyin Fayinka said he was glad that the pilot project was constructed in Mushin.

He assured residents of Lagos of full protection and adequate security while challenging other members of the executive to facilitate similar construction in their areas for the good of the people. The Iyaloja of Mushin, Alhaja Toyibat Borokini appreciated the governor for setting Mushin as a good example to others. She promised to maximise the use of the agro-hub. The Development Partner for Origin Group, Prince Samuel Samuel said that the idea started in 2019 and received the blessings of the governor. He said Lagos consumes six trillion naira worth of food annually while the nation at large consumes 73 trillion naira, assuring that the project will make food cheaper in the state.