By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Residents of Lagos use at least N3 billion on food everyday, the state Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has disclosed.
He said due to this, the state government has put in place mechanisms to guarantee food security.
Mr Ambode, speaking on Thursday at the maiden edition of the Lagos food security and exhibition summit, assured investors willing to do business in the agricultural sector of an available and ready market in the state.
He said the state government has acquired farmlands in other neighbouring states of Ogun and Oyo as well as Abuja to produce some food items.
According to the Governor, “Our core policy thrust towards achieving food security is to maximize the comparative advantage of the state in agriculture and establish partnerships with other states of the federation with comparative advantage in specific areas.”
Mr Ambode noted that this was the force behind a partnership between Lagos and Kebbi States on agricultural commodities, especially in the production of rice called Lake Rice.
He also said Lagos has acquired 500 hectares of farmland in Eggua, Ogun State for the cultivation of rice as well as 84.7 hectares at Okinni in Oshogbo for oil palm processing.
Mr Ambode said, “Our country is blessed with very good arable land and a climate that supports food production.
“We can achieve food security and create employment opportunities for our teeming youth if we put in place the right policies and incentives that will attract significant investment into the Agricultural sector.”
According to the Governor, “One of the challenges the current economic recession has brought to the fore is the urgent need to develop a sustainable programme that will guarantee food security for our people.”
He said as a nation, in the past, “We spent billions of foreign exchange on importation of food and food items many of which can be cultivated in our country.”
