Simeon Shodimu
As food inflation, supply chain disruptions and rapid urbanisation continue to challenge Nigeria’s commercial capital, the Lagos State Government is pushing an ambitious agricultural transformation agenda aimed at turning the state into Africa’s leading food systems hub. With strategic investments in logistics, storage, processing and market infrastructure, the state says it is repositioning agriculture from subsistence activity to a multi-trillion-naira economic powerhouse.
The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to reposition agriculture as a major economic growth driver, unveiling sweeping infrastructure and market reforms aimed at strengthening the state’s estimated N16.14 trillion food economy.
Speaking during the 2026 ministerial press briefing in Lagos, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, said the administration is moving away from fragmented agricultural interventions toward a comprehensive food systems strategy built on infrastructure, logistics, technology and private-sector investment.
According to her, the state’s vision extends beyond food production to encompass storage, transportation, processing, aggregation, distribution and market access, with the ultimate goal of positioning Lagos as Africa’s leading food systems hub.
Olusanya noted that Lagos remains Nigeria’s largest food market, with enormous opportunities across the agricultural value chain for investors, farmers, logistics operators and agribusinesses.
At the centre of the transformation plan is the Lagos Central Food Systems and Logistics Hub in Epe, a flagship project expected to become the largest food logistics hub in Sub-Saharan Africa upon completion.
She disclosed that the facility is designed to process more than 1.5 million metric tonnes of food annually while accommodating over 1,500 trucks daily. The project, according to her, will serve as a strategic backbone for food aggregation, storage, processing and distribution across the state and beyond.
“The first phase of the Lagos Central Food Security Systems and Logistics Hub is scheduled for commissioning this year,” Olusanya said, describing the project as a major turning point in Lagos’ food systems transformation agenda.
The hub is expected to feature cold and dry storage facilities, processing centres, quality control laboratories, warehousing systems, digital trading platforms and truck parks aimed at reducing post-harvest losses, improving efficiency and stabilising food prices.
In a bid to strengthen market access and investor confidence, the state government has also introduced the Produce for Lagos initiative alongside a N500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund targeted at supporting farmers, aggregators, logistics operators and agribusiness investors.
Olusanya explained that the fund is designed to de-risk agricultural investments and create a structured, guaranteed market for farm produce, thereby boosting confidence across the agricultural value chain.
Beyond logistics and financing, Lagos has continued to expand its agricultural infrastructure through projects such as the Imota Rice Mill, agro-produce hubs and the Lagos Aquaculture Centre of Excellence.
The commissioner revealed that the Imota Rice Mill — regarded as the largest in Africa and the third largest globally — produced more than 500,000 bags of Eko Rice within the review period. To sustain operations at the facility, hundreds of hectares of rice fields have also been cultivated across the state to improve paddy supply.
She further highlighted the state’s growing investment in youth empowerment and agribusiness development through initiatives such as the Lagos Agripreneurship Programme, Lagos Agric Scholars Programme and Lagos Agrinnovation Club.
According to her, more than 66,000 beneficiaries have received support under various agricultural programmes since May 2025, while thousands of youths, farmers and agribusiness operators have been trained in modern agricultural practices and value-chain opportunities.
Olusanya added that the government is actively encouraging private-sector participation in aquaculture, logistics, cold-chain systems, greenhouse farming, food retail, processing and digital agriculture as part of efforts to build a resilient and sustainable food economy.
“We are not implementing isolated agricultural projects,” she said. “We are building a complete food systems architecture that will strengthen food security, create jobs, attract investment and position Lagos as Nigeria’s food systems powerhouse.”
