The Lagos State Government has announced that the Mid-Level Agro Produce Hub at Idi-Oro, Mushin, has recorded over ₦3 billion in food transactions since its launch in December 2023 a key milestone in the state’s aggressive push to reform its agricultural and food systems.
The disclosure was made by Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, during a Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, as part of activities marking Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s sixth year in office.
Olusanya highlighted that the success of the Idi-Oro Agro Hub underscores the Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to transforming food systems in Lagos. She revealed that the hub, which operates every Wednesday and Saturday, is part of a broader strategy to improve access to fresh farm produce in dignified and hygienic facilities.
“The Mid-Level Agro Produce Hub at Idi-Oro, Mushin, was commissioned on December 17, 2023, by Mr. Governor. It has since recorded over ₦3 billion in sales,” she said.
The Idi-Oro hub is the second tier in the state’s food system transformation agenda, with three additional hubs under construction in Agege, Abijo, and Opebi, aimed at enhancing market access, reducing food losses, and controlling prices.
Preparing for a Growing Population
With the Lagos population projected to reach 24 million by 2030, Olusanya warned that food demand could hit ₦7.96 trillion annually, adding that without strategic intervention, the state would need to import ₦3.38 trillion worth of food per year to meet demand.
“To achieve 40% local food production by 2030, Lagos must grow its output by at least 20% annually,” she noted.
Strategic Agricultural Milestones
The Commissioner detailed several other achievements of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, including:
- Lagos Rice Mill (Imota): Over 240,127 50kg bags of rice produced, 430 direct jobs created, and over 10,000 indirect jobs generated.
- Ounje Eko Food Discount Markets: 800,000 households reached with subsidised food items.
- Farmers’ Subsidy Programme: Over 3,700 poultry and fish farmers supported with subsidised feed.
- Training & Empowerment: 70,200 beneficiaries empowered with inputs and production assets; 300 youths trained in beekeeping.
- Infrastructure: Construction of 13km farm access roads, 6 jetties, and 15 processing centres under World Bank-supported APPEALS and Lagos CARES projects.
Other landmark initiatives include the Urban Farming Initiative, Lagos Agripreneurship Programme, Eko Flavours Competition, LACE (Aquaculture Centre), and youth-focused programmes like the Lagos Agric Scholars Programme (LASP) and Agrithon Fund.
Olusanya emphasized that these efforts are part of a coordinated strategy to achieve food security, stimulate job creation, and support agro-enterprises across the entire value chain from production to processing and distribution.
