By Mercy Omoike/Oluwatope Lawanson
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has called for deeper partnerships with food-producing states, investors, development partners and research institutions to achieve food security.
Sanwo-Olu said Lagos could not achieve the goal alone.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, made the call at the grand finale of the 2026 World Food Day celebration in Ikeja on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for the 2026 World Food Day is “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow”.
World Food Day is observed annually on Oct. 16 to commemorate the founding of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation in 1945 and promote action toward ending hunger and malnutrition.
Sanwo-Olu emphasised the need for collective action to address food supply challenges in the state.
He said it was necessary to adopt innovative approaches to food production, processing and distribution.
‘’We cannot achieve food security by expanding farmland; we achieve it by producing more on the land we have.
‘’We also achieve it by sourcing efficiently from partner states, processing more of what we consume, and moving food from farm to household with less waste, ‘’ he said.
The governor said the state’s Five-Year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap targeted an increase in food self-sufficiency from about 20 per cent to 40 per cent of its food demand.
He noted that to achieve food security, it was imperative to accelerate innovation and adopt appropriate technology.
“We must invest in people through access to skills, finance, technology and markets, and reduce post-harvest losses through improved storage, processing, logistics and market coordination.
Sanwo-Olu also stressed the need to pursue food affordability, nutrition and sustainability simultaneously, noting that the success of government programmes should be measured by their lasting impact on people’s lives.
He said that the phase one of the Lagos Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub at Ketu-Ereyun, Epe, was at an advanced stage.
He also said that the mid-level agro-produce hubs at Abijo, Ibeju-Lekki, and Dairy Farm, Agege, had been commissioned.
He added that construction was ongoing at Opebi, Ikeja, and Bombata, Lagos Island, to strengthen food distribution, reduce waste and bring food closer to consumers at competitive prices.
The governor said that the produce for Lagos initiative was connecting participating farmers to structured offtake arrangements at agreed prices, supported by a ₦500 billion Guarantee Offtake Fund.
According to him, this is part of efforts to improve food distribution, reduce intermediaries, and make food available to consumers at competitive prices.
Sanwo-Olu, who described the celebration as the last World Food Day event of his administration, expressed appreciation to farmers for their contributions to the state’s food system.
“You have not merely been beneficiaries of our programmes. You have been our partners, and you stayed with us even when the journey was difficult.
“My tenure will end, but the importance of the farmer must never diminish, and our commitment to food security must outlive any administration,” he said.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, said that the state government was strengthening linkages across the food value chain.
‘’The government is strengthening linkages through investments in agricultural production, processing and market infrastructure to improve food security, ‘’ she said.
She said that the government had undertaken several initiatives over the past seven and a half years to transform agriculture into a comprehensive food system.
According to her, such food system is capable of meeting the needs of Lagos’ growing population.
Olusanya listed the Lagos Rice Mill; Central Food Logistics Hub; mid-level markets and last-mile meat distribution points as initiatives aimed at strengthening the state’s food supply chain.
‘’Others initiatives include dairy and cattle feedlot projects, and the Lagos Aquaculture Centre of Excellence, ‘’ she said.
The commissioner also listed other initiatives designed to help households access food at reduced prices and improve the movement of produce from farms to markets.
‘’The initiatives are the ‘’Ounje Eko Food Discount Market’’; fertiliser distribution; mechanisation support and cold-chain logistics under Eko Logistics.
‘’The state has established agricultural laboratories in over 40 schools and trained more than 100,000 people.
‘’Also, the Lagos Agrinnovation Club and Agrithon are encouraging young people to develop solutions to agricultural challenges, ‘’ the commissioner said.
Olusanya urged farmers, processors, traders, transporters, financial institutions and development partners to sustain collaboration.
On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola, said that food security was essential to national stability.
‘’A nation unable to feed itself risks social insecurity, ‘’ he said.
Fashola encouraged residents to patronise local farmers by purchasing their produce, stressing that collective efforts were essential to achieving sustainable food security across Lagos State.
NAN reports that the high point of the event was a march-past by various food and farmers associations, and cooperative societies from across the local government areas in the state.
They showcased their agricultural produce and other products. (NAN)www.nannews.ng
DMO/LAW/EEI
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Edited by Esenvosa Izah
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