The agricultural sector contributes over N7 trillion annually to the
Gross Domestic Product, GDP, of Lagos State. This is said to be
made possible by the state government’s food sustainability and
security system policy. This was made known by Abisola Olusanya,
Commissioner for Agriculture in the state. He was speaking during
the ministerial briefing to mark Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s
second term’s first year in office.
The commissioner said, “In Nigeria, agriculture contributes 25 per
cent to the GDP and with Lagos generating over N40 trillion. But in
Lagos, the sector encompasses a lot up to food production, supply,
which agriculture contributes N7 trillion in the last couple of years to
the economy.”
Olusanya said, notwithstanding the feat, the state government was
not going to rest on its oars. She said, “This is to tell you that we have
the potential, there is opportunity. We will not relent in terms of
making it better. We will continue to push in providing the best for our
citizens.”
The state, according to the commissioner, will not relent in
propagating the ideals for food security in the country. Hear her: “That
is why Lagos will continue to advocate for food market organisation
as one of the key solutions to addressing food scarcity and
unwholesome practices in our food value chain in Nigeria.”
On production of red meat in the state, she disclosed that not less
than 10,000 herds of cattle are slaughtered daily in the state. She
further said, “There are so many loopholes. A lot of people take
advantage of these loopholes. This is why we will be taking
advantage of the logistics hub in Epe.
“Lagos slaughters not less than 10,000 herds of cattle daily, these
include what is slaughtered in our army barracks.”
Olusanya explained that as part of measures to control and preserve
the meat, the state government would inaugurate 50 vans meat at
Oko-Oba abattoirs to boost wholesome meat transportation in the
state.
The commissioner spoke on the consumption of rice in Lagos state
and efforts made by the state government to ensure that the
demands of people are met, and prices controlled to manageable
levels. She said, “Lagos State is the largest consumer of rice in the
country with an estimated consumption of about 2 Million metric
tonnes per annum.
“The Lagos Rice Mill is 2 lines of 16MTPH integrated mill sited on 8.5
hectares of land at Imota. The rice mill has a capacity to produce 2.4
million bags of 50 kg bags of Rice yearly using 200,000 Metric tonnes
of paddy annually.
“The mill is part of the government’s commitment towards ensuring
food security in the State which is a key component of the
T.H.E.M.E.S + Development Agenda of Mr. Governor to make Lagos
State a 21st Century economy.”