The Lagos State Government has announced that transactions worth a total of N918 million have been recorded at the Mushin Fresh Food Agro-Hub since its establishment.
During a media briefing on Wednesday at Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, shared this information.
The briefing also covered the addition of ‘Food Systems’ to the ministry’s name and the strategic plans of the state government aimed at ensuring affordable food sufficiency amidst rising inflation.
Acknowledging the challenge farmers face in disposing of their products without relying heavily on middle-men, the state government initiated the Lagos State Fresh Food Agro Hub at Idi-Oro, Mushin.
The Food Agro-Hub, spanning 6,400 square meters, includes a parking area of 3,017 square meters to accommodate trailers and vehicles. It also features centralized wet and dry storage areas for bulk buying.
Governor Sanwo-Olu inaugurated the hub on Sunday, January 28, with a food fair marking the start of commercial activities at the hub. This mega center was established to deliver fresh farm produce directly to consumers in 2023.
A 10 percent discount is available for consumers purchasing between N2,000 and N5,000 at the hub.
Providing data analysis on the hub’s activities and the state government’s interventions to mitigate food scarcity and inflation, Olusanya stated, “In the Mushin Food Hub, in 40 operational market days, we have registered 339 active vendors who have been serving free of charge and recorded food transactions of over N918 million. Cassava flakes, garri in local term, recorded over 26,000 kilos sold, over 18,0000 313 kilos of poultry meats sold, over 180,000 of rice sold while 55,000 crates of eggs sold among others within the period under review. Under Ounje Eko distribution for local government we have given 1,000 bags of 25 kilos of rice, 1,000 bags 25 kilos of beans, and 2, 000 25 kilos cassava flakes, garri.”
The state government also plans to sign partnership agreements with more states and the private sector to boost food production and supply.
Olusanya encouraged residents to embrace subsistence farming by growing crops within their homes to reduce food costs in the state.
She explained that the ministry focuses on four pillars, including domestic self-sufficiency, by urging residents to grow plants within their homes. This initiative aims to reduce the burden on food shortage while harmonizing databases to support all forms of farmers in the state.
The state has begun moves to sign pacts with more states to reduce food prices. Olusanya said, “We have begun moves to sign partnership deal with more states with comparative advantage. We are developing operational framework with states and private sector in areas like: Cassava produce with Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, rice with Niger, and maize with Kaduna, Adamawa, Plateau, among other states.”
The addition of Food Systems to the ministry’s name aims to improve service delivery to Lagos residents. According to Olusanya, the job on agriculture extends beyond farmers and includes the entire value chain to ensure food is available at affordable prices.
Clarifying the distribution of food palliatives, she stated that due process is followed without biases regarding religion, party affiliation, or ethnicity, involving Community Development Associations to ensure transparency.
Olusanya assured transparency in the distribution of the recently announced 20 trucks of rice by the Federal Government to states to curb the food crisis. Additionally, she mentioned the state’s efforts to partner on food processing to curb spoilage and improve storage infrastructure, ensuring longer-term storage and better food transport logistics to stabilize market prices.
