By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unveiled a five-point food security strategy centred on technology, interstate partnerships, investment in farmers, improved storage to reduce post-harvest losses, and affordable, nutritious and sustainable food production.
The governor said Lagos, Nigeria’s smallest state by landmass but home to more than 22 million people, must prioritise agricultural productivity, efficient food sourcing and distribution rather than farmland expansion to meet its growing food needs.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, spoke at the grand finale of the 2026 World Food Day celebration at the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos.
He said the state’s growing population required innovative approaches to food production, processing and distribution, stressing that food security depended on maximising available resources and strengthening partnerships with other states.
“Lagos is Nigeria’s smallest state by landmass, yet it is home to over 22 million people. We cannot achieve food security by expanding farmland. We achieve it by producing more on the land we have, sourcing efficiently from partner states, processing more of what we consume, and moving food from farm to household with less waste,” he said.
The governor said this year’s World Food Day theme, “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow”, underscored the need to translate research and new ideas into practical solutions to hunger and malnutrition.
He noted that innovation must extend beyond research institutions to farms, processing centres, markets and households to guarantee access to adequate and nutritious food.
Sanwo-Olu also commended farmers for their resilience amid rising production costs and climate-related challenges, describing their welfare and long-term sustainability as critical to the state’s food security agenda.
He urged stakeholders to work towards building resilient food systems capable of delivering safe, nutritious and affordable food to residents.
In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, highlighted the state government’s agricultural reforms and investments over the past seven and a half years, saying they were designed to strengthen the food value chain and improve food availability.
She said the ministry had been rebranded from Agriculture to Agriculture and Food Systems, with new departments established to focus on livestock development, produce safety and mechanisation.
According to her, major interventions include the operationalisation of the Lagos Rice Mill, development of the Central Food Logistics Hub, advancement of middle-level markets, establishment of fresh dairy feedlot projects and creation of the Lagos Aquaculture Centre of Excellence.
Olusanya said more than 100,000 people had received training through programmes such as the Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project and the Butchers Academy.
She added that the government had also introduced welfare-focused interventions, including the Ounje Eko discounted food markets and school agricultural laboratories, to improve food access and promote agricultural education.
The commissioner expressed confidence that the incoming administration would sustain and integrate these initiatives into the state’s existing food systems framework.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Systems, Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola, identified youth engagement and education as essential to achieving sustainable food security across the region.
He called for stronger collaboration among governments, farmers, private investors, educational institutions and development partners, noting that a sustainable food system required coordinated action across the agricultural value chain.
Other stakeholders at the event commended the state government’s agricultural initiatives, particularly efforts to support farmers and create an enabling environment for increased food production and improved food supply.