Lagos Unveils Massive Food Security Drive, Set to Open Africa’s Biggest Food Hub in Epe

 

By oluwaseyi fadoro 

The Lagos State Government has unveiled new achievements and investments in agriculture and food systems development, including the training of more than 25,300 farmers and plans to commission the first phase of a massive food logistics hub in Epe before the end of 2026.

Speaking during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms Abisola Olusanya, said the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was transforming agriculture in the state through a coordinated food systems strategy aimed at boosting food security and stabilising prices.

Olusanya explained that the state government was shifting from isolated agricultural interventions to a broader food systems economy focused on increasing local food production, strengthening partnerships with food-producing states, improving storage and logistics infrastructure, and enhancing market operations.

According to her, over 25,300 farmers, fisherfolk, processors, livestock operators, market participants, women and youths received training during the review period, adding to more than 100,500 beneficiaries previously trained by the ministry.

She disclosed that the Lagos Agripreneurship Programme trained more than 1,500 youths in poultry, aquaculture, crop production and agribusiness management. Beneficiaries were also provided with practical mentorship and productive assets to establish commercial farming ventures.

The commissioner further stated that 442 secondary schools applied for the Lagos Agric Scholars Programme, with 50 schools selected for practical vegetable farming support. She added that 12 outstanding schools would receive greenhouse facilities and agricultural inputs from the state government.

On livestock development, Olusanya said the Lagos State Butchers Academy trained 20 youths and supported them with containerised meat shops aimed at modernising the meat value chain and improving hygiene standards across the state. She noted that Governor Sanwo-Olu had approved the training of an additional 40 youths alongside the provision of 10 more meat shops.

Highlighting major infrastructure projects, the commissioner said the Lagos Rice Mill in Imota, described as the largest in Africa and the third largest globally, produced more than 500,000 bags of 50kg Eko Rice during the review period.

She added that the government cultivated hundreds of hectares of rice fields in Eggua, Agonrin and Ganyingbo to increase paddy supply to the mill.

Olusanya also announced that the first phase of the Lagos Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub in Epe would be commissioned before the end of the year.

The facility, expected to become the largest food logistics hub in Sub-Saharan Africa, is designed to process more than 1,500 trucks daily and support the movement of about 1.5 million metric tonnes of food annually.

“The project will reduce post-harvest losses, improve food safety, lower logistics costs and support stable food prices across Lagos,” she said.

She further revealed that the Lagos Fresh Food Hub in Idi-Oro, Mushin, generated an additional ₦1.2 billion in transactions from 76 market days since May 2025, while over 850 vendors had been registered and more than 7,000 direct and indirect jobs created.

According to the commissioner, new mid-level agro-produce hubs are also being developed in Agege, Opebi, Ikorodu and Bombata, with additional locations identified in Apapa, Festac and Lekki.

On aquaculture development, Olusanya said construction had commenced on the Lagos Aquaculture Centre of Excellence, which is projected to produce 50 million fingerlings annually, alongside 2,000 tonnes of table-sized fish and 20,000 tonnes of processed fish.