Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems has expressed its commitment to accomplish its 5-year Agricultural and Food Systems Roadmap’s market transformation template.
The government is confident that food security and sustainability in the state is sacrosanct and it is working with the relevant stakeholders to create a supportive environment for all players.
Speaking at a 3-day annual retreat held at Orchid Hotel Lekki Lagos, with the theme: “The Adaptive Edge, Lead Change, Connect Strongly, Thrive as One“, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya said that Agriculture is a work in progress and needs consistent efforts, which prompted the deliberate actions by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration to continuously address the evolving challenges towards revolutionising the state Agricultural value-chain.
Olusanya explained that the 5-year Agricultural development road map, launched in April 2021 is in line with the THEMES plus developmental agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the state is still on course to ensure the sector adds values in sustaining food security.
“The heart of the roadmap is still the market transformation agenda which is the Central Logistics Hub, it is the most pivotal, we also have middle level market and last mile market.
Here we talk about the need to ramp up food production under the Produce for Lagos Initiative, we are having domestic food production initiatives as well as up country partnership.
Everything is all tied up back to the 5-year roadmap that we have been discussing in the last four years.
“We have not deviated from it, we have actually kept to it and the impact of that you will see it more this year as we commission some of these landmark projects.” she said.
Annual Retreat
On the annual retreat, Olusanya stressed that the event was designed to review the activities of the Ministry in the past year and periscope into years ahead for optimal value delivery in the sector.
According to her “It is important that we are on the same page, with regards to market forces and changes globally. We need to find ways to adapt and ways to be creative and utilise our resources more efficiently and ensure that even regards to revenue that should be generated also, we improve at the end of the day.”
“We have new members of staff at the moment and it is important that we have the mix of old and new, the younger ones would obviously take up this projects by the time some of us exit service and it important to have the fundamental knowledge to carry the projects forward.
“Overall, our plans are not always about right now, just within the year, our plans always go beyond the current financial year, we are looking at the next two to three years, what will be the impact on our decisions here.”
Ramadan Discount
And to welcome Muslim faithfuls to the incoming month of Ramadan, the Commissioner hinted that the state government would open a discounted market at the Fresh Food Hub in Mushin to allow residents savour the Ounje Eko during the holy month.
She said “When you consider what is happening nationally, the price of fuel is dropping by the day and It is observed that prices of food are also dropping in some quarters. With the support we have been giving farmers under the Ounje Eko Farmers’ Subsidy Program the impact will be felt on the prices of food this Ramadan period and besides that we will also be running a bit of discount at the Fresh Food Hub in Mushin, for those that will be participating in the Ramadan and remember Lent will also be starting a few days after that.”
Healthy competition
In his remarks, the Special Adviser on Agriculture and Food Systems, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola said the retreat has been engaging and cohesive which has allowed members of staff to interact and connect for more rewarding opportunities that would improve the Ministry’s activities in the coming months.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Emmanuel Audu also added that unhealthy competition would retard progress of any organisation, stressing that the retreat is bridging the gaps towards creating a healthy competition that would bring positive outcomes to the development of the state as it concerns Agric and food systems in Lagos state.
Produce for Lagos
A guest speaker at the event, the Chairman Origin Tech Group, Mr Joseph Samuel acknowledged the enormous opportunities in the agricultural space and commended the state government’s strides towards sustaining the agric ecosystem.
In his presentation on ‘Produce for Lagos’ Initiative’. Samuel explained that the state government under the leadership of Babajide Sanwo-Olu is building a Market-led Agric System with major agro products processing projects scattered across state.
He said “There is a need to guide production in an efficient manner and produce for Lagos is designed towards sustainability in the state.
It is a strategic programme being driven in partnership with the Lagos State Government with the aim to enhance food security and agricultural productivity within the state.
This initiative focuses on catalysing increased agricultural output and establishing partnerships to ensure a stable food supply for Lagos and other key food markets in Nigeria.”
Budget planning
Similarly, the Lagos State Commissioner For Budget and Economic Planing, Mr Ope George engaged the participants in an interactive session where questions were raised about financial activities and other related development in Budgeting.
While emphasising the importance of training, George urged them to explore the windows of opportunity for research funds in the state that can elevate their career in the state civil service.
At the retreat, Departments and Units under the ministry took turns to present their performance in the last year and each group were assessed accordingly.
Oyenike Oyeniyi
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